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{
    "id": 1527193,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1527193/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 343,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Wundanyi, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Danson Mwashako",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Today, wherever all CHPs are in this country, they need to know that the National Assembly has already done its part. We are allocating money to pay CHPs. There should be no excuse for not paying them. County governments should ensure they pay them in good time. The other money factored in this Bill is going to pay arrears on basic salaries for health workers. We know that some health workers are on strike. The money we are appropriating and passing today will also go into paying arrears on basic salaries of the health workers. Allow me to also speak a little about monies allocated to Taita/Taveta County whose one constituency I represent in this House. I am excited to see that we are appropriating a whopping Khs850 million towards water and sanitation development in the County of Taita/Taveta. I am excited about this and it is one of the reasons I am supporting the Bill. We have very many issues around water and sanitation in my county. I am excited as I sit here today to look at the Bill allocating Ksh850 million to Taita/Taveta. If used prudently, I know this money will sort out the perennial water shortage issues in our county. In addition, we are appropriating money to the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Programme (NAVCDP). The World Bank funds that new programme. The project is critical to agriculture-based counties. It is critical to see our people supported in their subsistence farming. I see that we are appropriating Ksh151 million for NAVCDP in Taita/Taveta County. Counties have been running up and down trying to get money for programmes that are not devolved. All programmes to which this Bill is allocating money are devolved. Counties need to prioritise the programmes even with their equitable share. You will wonder to realise that counties have been fighting this National Assembly over the RMLF instead of putting their best foot forward to ensure value for the money we allocate them. They are struggling for Fuel Levy from which they will get very little money. For instance, the county I hail from will get about Ksh150 million. Counties are fighting Members of Parliament and the national Government to get little money compared even to the money we are giving them as conditional grants. Why is a county receiving Ksh1 billion in conditional grants or Ksh7 to Ksh10 billion in equitable share so sticky towards little money like the Fuel Levy? That is a small fraction compared to the monies they receive! It is a pity that much of the money the National Assembly appropriates to counties is misappropriated, wasted, or stolen. We will see this country develop if we deal with the theft, graft, and mismanagement of our funds in counties and ensure that those who pilfer public finances are taken to court and charged. Then, the 5 per cent GDP growth that our country is always proud of can easily rise to two digits of economic growth. We call upon our Governors across the country to exercise prudent use of resources as we support this Bill. They must call their staff who are stealing to order. I want to believe that the governors are not stealing. Their days are numbered if they are. We must call them to order. I can tell you that governors are surrounded by people who are stealing more than the governors are. They are building maisonettes, buying apartments, and doing so much across the country. Sometimes you wonder whether governors have eyes or they are part and parcel of that kind of theft of public resources. As we do all this and oversee the national Government, it is important and a must that the Senate does its work. Many times, Senators wake up and start bashing Members of the National Assembly on very flimsy reasons. We will have a problem if the Senate does not wake up and do oversight to curb the pilferage in counties in a manner that this country will find the value of the Senate. They call themselves an upper House. There is no way... They are only overseeing Ksh480 billion or Ksh400 billion in division of revenue yet much of that money is lost. This National Assembly is overseeing over Ksh2 trillion. If you look at the Ksh400 billion Senate oversights versus the Khs2.5 trillion, then, of course, the National Assembly should be the upper House. However, I do not want to get to that debate. Senate must do its job. It should stop assuming the role of the National Assembly by inviting Cabinet Secretaries. Senators are doing public relations. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}