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{
    "id": 1502691,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1502691/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 123,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Than’gwa",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I also said that the President has acknowledged that the tax base has increased by 11.5 per cent so there is more money at the national Government. Then why reduce the monies that goes to the counties? That is why I was trying to compare the two; what the President believes and what this House believes. I know that there is a lot of embezzlement and corruption when these monies get to the counties. As we send monies to the counties, we should also call on the governors to use these resources effectively, fight corruption and stop thievery. The other day, I heard the governors saying that they will shut down counties if we do not agree. You do not threaten a person who is trying to assist the counties get what they are supposed to. If you tell us that if we do not agree very fast, you will shut down counties, what are you trying to tell us? That is why Members of this committee agreed to the reduction of the Kshs13 billion because county governors are threatening they will shut down. Probably the committee decided instead of them shutting down, they would give them less money. I would want the governors to come out and say how they are using and misusing county resources with the same gusto they threatened to shut down counties. Monies have been sent to the counties, but the health workers are not paid. For example, in Kiambu County, my great county, the health workers have not been paid their salaries for the last four months. The Kiambu employees are not attending the Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association (KICOSCA) games this year; something they have done every year. That is the only opportunity they meet other people from other counties for cohesion, agreement and mutual understanding. They will not attend because they say there is no money. However, if you ask them how they used the money they had budgeted for--- Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, they should not again blame the national Government that there is late disbursement, yet they have their own source of revenue. This is a call to all governors to work on their own source of revenue. That does not mean increasing the taxes or levies, it is just broadening the collection of it. This can only be done through digitisation. I am comparing the President's speech with my contribution. I am supporting some of his pronouncements. Paragraph 66 of the President says- “I am delighted to report on the dramatic improvements we have recorded by automating and digitising our revenue collection and service delivery through e-Citizen.” This should be trickled down to the county government. I am calling on the governors to borrow from the President's speech and digitise their own source revenue collection methods. They should digitize tax or levies collection, service delivery and water supply. Counties own water companies in their counties. Since I am in one of the committees that scrutinize the audit reports about water companies, we have realised that counties are losing a lot of water through the non- revenue water, leakages, stealing of water, no meters and all that. Yesterday, we had the Governor of Kirinyaga County. Her county is losing 56 per cent of all the water supplied to the county. When you ask them, they say the pipes are old. They do not have meters and people are stealing water. If we digitise and have smart meters, it will help with the service delivery. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}