Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1488203,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1488203/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 300,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kesses, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Rutto",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you so much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also want to thank Hon. Emaase for the good presentation. I rise to support this Motion on the rejection of the Senate amendments to the Division of the Revenue (Amendment) Bill. It is obvious information to every Kenyan, as we speak, that we suffered a serious challenge when the Finance Bill, 2024 was not assented into law. That was the first time we experienced such a scenario. The Division of Revenue Bill, 2024 that was approved by the National Assembly and Senate was prepared on the backdrop that the ordinary revenue was to be raised to Ksh2.9 trillion. Unfortunate happenings took place thereafter, with the rise of the Generation Z demonstrations and Kenyans rejected the Finance Bill. The President heeded to the call by Kenyans, not to assent to the Finance Bill, 2024. All of us know that the revenue suffered a shock. As we speak, the reality is that the revenue projected is way below Ksh346 billion which was intended to be collected. Therefore, this calls for amendments. The National Assembly, through the Budget and Appropriations Committee, absorbed 94 per cent of the drop of revenue to Ksh346 billion. This was the biggest cut. Only 5 per cent allocation under the Division of Revenue Bill to county governments was affected. That was enough for them to say thank you. It is high time that county governments rose to the occasion and knew we are one Kenya. Despite the fact that there are 47 counties, all of us constitute one Kenya. We do not have other ways of collecting additional revenue and so, we should live within our means. I support the rejection of the amendment Bill. I also ask the Senate to further consider the amendments because there are more demands to be met. They introduced issues like the roads maintenance levy. We are all aware that in 2019, they were agitated by this issue. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}