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{
    "id": 1476043,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1476043/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 432,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "When we went further, there was the issue Community Health Promotes (CHPs). The formula that is in place talks about a 50-50 contribution from the national and the county government. The amount is Kshs3.23 billion. If this reduction is made, then it means our CHPs will go unpaid. Nairobi City County is leading with the highest number of CHPs among other counties. We know how much input and impact they have today. If we reduce these amounts, does it mean that our CHPs will go unpaid? There is the other issue of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contribution. With the new policies, these amounts have changed. This is a recurrent cost that needs to be taken care of by the county governments. It amounts to another Kshs3 billion. Where is this money supposed to come from? These are policies that cut across nationally which affect the employees at the county levels. There is the other issue of the Affordable Housing Levy. The outstanding amount that the counties will be required to pay is over Kshs4 billion. These are policies that need to be adhered to. We cannot forget the salary annual increment for employees. At the county level, it will be about Kshs6.2 billion. Where are counties supposed to get all these funds to sustain all these recurrent and developmental expenditures? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as I stated earlier, some of them are policies that are in place and they need to be supported and paid. Not just paid, but paid on time. If this is not considered, where does it leave the counties in terms of development and the employees at the county level? These amendments are coming from the National Treasury and when the Cabinet Secretary appeared here last week but one, before our Committee, our greatest concern was what simulation was used to reduce the figure of over Kshs400 to Kshs380 billion. That is a whooping Kshs20 billion. What mathematical formula was used to arrive at Kshs380 billion and why not Kshs399 billion? Why not remove Kshs300 billion and be left with Kshs100 billion then if figures need to be removed without a justifiable explanation as to why budgets need to be cut? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the explanation was not substantiated enough to justify the deduction of the Kshs20 billion. This means that these deductions have just been done. After keenly looking at Clause 3 which had proposed to amend Section 5 of DORA and which was providing the shortfall as per Article 219, it stated that: “A county's share of revenue raised by the national government shall be transferred into the county without undue delay and without deduction, except when the transfer has been stopped under Article 235.” If we were to allow this amendment to take place, it will then mean the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning will have room to change or to amend the equitable share to counties without referring to Parliament. If there is no justification for the Kshs20 billion, then tomorrow if another Kshs10 billion is deducted because there is room and we have given room as per Clause 3, we would then be leaving the counties very exposed. This scenario is one of the most unique scenarios because this has never happened before. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the total shareable revenue is Kshs2.6 trillion. The national Government share stands at Kshs2.23 trillion and the counties at Kshs401 billion as per the previous allocation. Instead of removing the Kshs20 billion from the counties, The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only.A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services,Senate."
}