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{
    "id": 1502735,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1502735/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 167,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kisang",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2263,
        "legal_name": "William Kipkemoi Kisang",
        "slug": "william-kipkemoi-kisang"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I also rise to support this mediated version of the Division of Revenue Bill. It is not lost to all of us, as Senators or even Members of the National Assembly, that the reason we are in this particular situation - although we had earlier passed the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) and County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA) - is because of what happened on the 25th and 26th June, 2024, the Finance Bill had to be shelved and withdrawn. This has caused the reduction of the shareable revenue to the counties to Kshs387.425 billion from Kshs400 billion, which all of us, as Senators, had passed. We had agreed that we wanted to give more to the counties because of several reasons. One of the reasons was the housing levy. Basically, the counties were also contributing the counterpart portion of the 1.5 per cent of the housing levy from employees. Another portion that the counties were contributing is to NSSF, because the NSSF is a pension fund. Basically, what the employees are contributing, the employers are also expected to contribute. That is what occasioned also the reduction of the amount the counties were using on the development budget. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is good to give credit to our colleagues, especially the Senators who were in that Committee. The team from National Assembly, especially the Co-chair of that team, was very adamant that Kshs380 billion was going to be enough to go to the counties. That would have been very sad because last Financial Year, 2023/2024, what was sent to the counties was Kshs385.425 billion, and it would have occasioned a reduction from what they got last year. The difference is Kshs2.5 billion from last year's amount. I believe it will enable the governors to sort out the expenses on the housing levy, NSSF contributions and also their counterparts; the Kshs2.5 million that they will contribute to pay the Community Health Promoters (CHP) as their portion. I believe the national Government will continue to contribute the other half of the stipend to our Community Health Promoters (CHP). These CHPs are the ones who are helping the counties and the national Government in rolling out the famous Taifa Care. This will enable our people to get services in the medical field under the Social Health Authority (SHA) and Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is not easy. We know we are facing challenges. The President was very clear when he spoke on Thursday as he was giving the State of the Nation Address. He stated that when the Kenya Kwanza Government came into power, there were many challenges. He also gave us a warning then that at the beginning, we will go through many challenges, but in due course, things will change for the better. We have been told that as of September last year, the inflation rate was 9.6 per cent, and as of October this year, it has dropped from 9.6 to 2.7 per cent. I know Kenyans are asking why are we not feeling this drop in inflation. There are many factors. 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."
}