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{
    "id": 1498354,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1498354/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 514,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Emuhaya, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Omboko Milemba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "counties should be those county own revenue processes and generation. We are not talking about it to kill it. Counties must generate their own revenue. They must levy taxes in a processed manner that is good for everyone, without injuring the entire economy of the country, other counties around them and the people. This is not impossible, despite the fact that we have put several hurdles because it happens in other jurisdictions like the United States of America. In America, the GDP and economy of States, which operate like counties in Kenya, is much bigger than even the Kenyan economy. Florida is a very good example. They can even give a loan to Kenya as a State, despite the fact that they are just a State within America. It is an equivalent of a county in Kenya, but its economy is bigger. That is what we must have envisioned, especially myself given my background in history and government. That is where our counties should go. So, we should still do it in a manner that encourages collection of taxes so that they fill in the gap that we have in terms of revenue within the counties. This is because we expected that, at one time, they should be even more independent than they are. Currently, they are fully dependent on the national Government. That causes a challenge such that when funds have not been disbursed to counties, there are threats to shut them down for example, by Monday. It is so absurd when I see a leader saying that they want to close counties by Monday, like the closure and the operation of counties depend on a statement by one particular leader. So, we need to encourage the collection of revenue. I also heard something which we must correct and deal with. Do we make laws in retrospect? This is because in this Bill, there is an introduction of a committee of five, the transition committee, which will review all the other taxes that were done before this law was made. Allow me to use the example of the Westminster. We do not make laws in retrospect. So, how shall we go back? According to Article 209 Constitution, we should have left this to the counties themselves to re-do what they had done. This is because progressive parliaments can make laws that can nullify the ones that were made by previous governments. So, we do not necessarily need a committee that will supervise them. But if the law goes through and they are given timelines, their own assemblies can bring those as Bills and deal with them in their own governments. Every Parliament is supreme and independent and is not bound by the previous Parliament. So, this is an area where we shall discuss with the Mover - all of us not just myself - so that we see how to amend it without necessarily looking like we are making this law in retrospect. Therefore, as I support this Bill, there are areas which we shall look into so that in the implementation, we do not kill the spirit of devolution. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support."
}