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{
    "id": 1504420,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1504420/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 331,
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    "content": "cheering squads and to finance goons. So, a governor walks into a funeral and the tent is almost brought down and the coffin is almost knocked down. You wonder where these people went to school. What is their upbringing? They sit on the chairs, knock out everybody and they have no respect. It is saddening, but it is the same. Some of us do that as leaders. On theft, I have on record where a former governor established a revenue collection system for Eastern Province, but the funds were actually being collected in Suba; these so- called online M-Pesa pay bills. Governors do that. They set a revenue collection system, money is paid in their counties but the discounting is done elsewhere and the money is remitted to them. This is just a reflection of who we are as a country. Hon. Deputy Speaker, let me go to more substantive issues. While I support this, if you look at the report, we are using 2020/2021 audited accounts. In other words, we are three years behind. Article 232 of the Constitution is very clear that it should be the revenue of each financial year. Even though we have the flexibility under Article 203 (3), it should be the last audited accounts. When you are disbursing money to counties three years behind the last financial year, you are basically starving them of money because revenues are projected to continuously grow, so you are not giving them the realistic revenue they should get. I think there is a problem and we need to look at it. I once talked about this here. Members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee should figure out what we need to do to have recent audited accounts. If not for that year, it should be for the last year. It should not be three years behind because the figures are different. On delayed disbursements, according to Article 203 (j) of the Constitution, we are supposed to enable county governments to discharge their functions efficiently and effectively. We are not giving the money on time. In other words, how can they plan and implement their projects on time? There is some work we need to do there as the National Assembly. On Own Source Revenue, most governors will be very proud to announce that they have raised a billion. They will be very proud to announce they have increased their Own Source Revenue, but no one ever tells you what that money did. They never tell you. As Parliament, we need to come up with a system where we incentivize improved collection of revenues, and also create accountability as to how that revenue is utilized."
}