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{
    "id": 1498216,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1498216/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 376,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Funyula, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Ojiambo Oundo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I seek your indulgence. It is unfortunate that the Mover of the Bill or whoever is representing him is conspicuously absent. Whatever we are talking about here is probably just music to our ears. Nobody cares to listen and ensure that it is transmitted to him. I do not know when you became a representative of the Leader of the Majority Party. This Bill raises fundamental issues that must be interrogated soberly, objectively and devoid of romantic obsession with the day's politics. The country, in its wisdom, created two levels of Government. The people made safeguards to ensure that all levels of Government operate independently and in complementarity. I see this Bill as a mere duplication of the existing Acts of Parliament. I draw the attention of the National Assembly, the Leader of the Majority party and Kenyans that whatever this Bill purports to address or cure is already taken care of under the Public Finance Management Act. Likewise, when you look at the provisions of the Constitution, they are explicitly clear on the processes to be undertaken and followed in the preparation of budgets and imposing revenue collection measures. So, this Bill cures nothing. This year, on 28th June 2024, the National Assembly passed the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Act No.8 of 2024. It was assented to by the President on 28th June 2024. It will come into operation on 29th December 2024. Whatever this Bill is trying to do is already covered. When you go to the Public Finance Management Act, all the way from Section 132, which deals with revenue-raising measures of county governments, the processes and stages to be undertaken are explicitly clear. Everybody is wondering about the purpose of this particular Bill. Article 209(3) of the Constitution of Kenya provides that the counties are authorised to raise taxes in the form of property rates. This House passed the mediated version of the National Rating Bill last week, which I believe is already assented to by the President. So, essentially, whatever this Bill purports to cure here is already taken care of by that particular Act of Parliament. The county governments are also authorised to impose entertainment taxes and others that are permitted by legislation. Those aspects are already covered under the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Act."
}