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{
    "id": 1504427,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1504427/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 338,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba South, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Caroli Omondi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "showing that we have a development component of our budget. So, you have to stretch the revenues to factor in perceived development, whether it is illusion or not. But it has to be there. That is the reality. If you want to remove the stretched revenue targets, you will have a budget that the revenues purely match standard obligations ― debt service and other recurrent expenditure of the Government. I do not think that is politically tolerable. That is why we must have aspirational revenue targets so that we can accommodate development. This is the reality we face as a country, and the only way to address it is by tackling corruption and conducting proper audits of our debt schemes to distinguish between real and fake debts. There is a lot of work that needs to be done. If you reduce our revenue projections, you will have a budget that matches debt and statutory obligations. But, I do not think that will be politically tenable. The other point I want to raise is that, it is time this House did two things. One, we start making our budget, both at national and county levels and capture them at constituency level so, that in every budget, we show what has been allocated to every constituency for roads, water or health. Then, a spreadsheet which is a high-level summary, is attached to that budget. Therefore, every Member can raise a piece of paper and show what the budget for that year is doing in their constituency. I will propose an amendment to our laws so that future budgets have a summary by constituency and not county. Our country is run on the basis of the 290 constituencies. The budget will clearly demonstrate what has been allocated in all the sectors, including donor funded projects in the country. It is time Parliament commissioned a study on the true impact of devolution. What has it done in terms of resource utilisation and impact on the people? This is because we are walking blind and lack knowledge. Some countries have received Ksh150 billion over the last ten years. Where has it gone? As a House, we need to commission an independent study that will open our eyes so that we can analyse the changes we need to make on devolution especially, the health sector like the lady from Baringo has said. Why should doctors be unemployed in a country that does not meet the threshold of doctor to patient ratio? In Kenya, doctors are unemployed and people are not getting medical services. Finally, we should also interrogate the Equalisation Fund. It is a 20-year fund but we have a problem. Not all those who are eligible for equalisation support are receiving it, even within intra-counties. We need to look at this because the time remaining is quite short. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. With those many remarks, I support."
}