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{
    "id": 1476081,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1476081/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 470,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I agree with the National Assembly that indeed it is time we lived within our means and have a budget cut, all the way to the county assemblies. Earlier this afternoon, we even heard Sen. Sifuna saying that all institutions have to cut the budget so that we can live within our means. This does not mean that the county governments should not be subjected to this. I understand that my role at the Senate is to support devolution and to ensure that county governments have enough resources, but I also understand that comes with the responsibility. We always urge our county governments to generate more own source revenue. There are so many county governments that up to date are 95 per cent dependent on this allocation, yet they have a lot of economic activities on the ground which they cannot show in terms of own source revenue. We also want to get to a point where we are encouraging the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of these counties; that is the governors, to go out and seek Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). They should go out and fundraise for the different projects and activities that they have in the counties. They can then become self-reliant from the national Government to the county governments. I concur with the National Assembly for the figures that they have put. This is 2024. This is not just any other time when we are talking about the division of revenue. We have seen what has been happening and the call for austerity measures to be placed everywhere. I believe that the county governments should not be left aside in ensuring we live within our means. I support that indeed all of us must take a cut and that includes all institutions in government, whether it is the devolved governments or the national Government. I do not want to support the committee's report where we are saying we have to push for more resources. I stand to support the National Assembly in the recommendations they have put to cut on the resources, until we are able to get the proper oversight and allocations of what this money is doing. Additionally, it is to encourage that these county governments push their own source revenue; go out and also fundraise for their projects. I, therefore, do not support the committee report."
}