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{
    "id": 1545646,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545646/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 201,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Concerning the Equalisation Fund, as a Committee, we have gone further and asked the National Treasury to disburse the remaining Kshs10 billion. This money does not increase. It is money that was allocated. Some has been disbursed, but the balance is pending. These are issues that can come to a closure when the National Treasury allocates these particular budgets, so that we achieve what the Equalisation Fund was to meant for because it was aimed to touch on critical issues, one of them being health. We know that issues of health are so sensitive. As a Committee, we propose Equalisation Fund of Ksh10 billion to see if it meets its goals. Additional allocation to the counties is Kshs69.8 billion. Last year when I sat in the Mediation Committee on county additional allocations, we did not conclude because of the timelines. There is one critical issue where we had back and forth. I want to mention this to Sen. Mungatana. I heard him talk about the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning. When he appeared before our Committee today, he categorically stated that he is not happy with the wrangles between the National Assembly and county governments. The Senate fully supports county governments as far as the issue of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) is concerned. However, today, the National Assembly scrapped off the RMLF completely. On our side, we have not scrapped it off in our Bill because these roles also belong to the counties. There is nothing wrong with them having funds. The funds for county headquarters have also been scrapped off by that Bill. As a Committee, we understand the need for counties to come to a closure as far as the issue of the five county headquarters is concerned, but you will find that there is back and forth. I agree that, as a House, we should also be part of the budget-making process. This should not just be the responsibility of the National Assembly alone. That is why we end up having back and forth. Who suffers? It is the mwananchi. There is a saying in Kiswahili language that fahali wawili wakipigana, nyasi ndizo huumia . I hope I have said it correctly. When it comes to these budgetary issues, funds meant for devolved functions should be left. We had to query a whopping Kshs29 billion for the health sector that has been transferred to the Ministry of Health directly. These are functions of county governments to improve different facilities. These are monies we should see being budgeted for all the medical staff. The legacy that should be left by the Ministry of Health is not beautiful buildings which are well-painted or well-structured. It should be the personnel. What is the point of getting into a very smart, well-equipped hospital? I wonder who knows when they will be sick and need to get to hospital. Is there a calendar or specific timeline? No one knows. The personnel are the most important team in this budgeting. We should be able to see that they are supported by their remunerations being paid on time. This to avert seeing the doctors and health workers on strike every week, including today. They will still approach the gates of Parliament. How can we be discussing billions of shillings yet the medical staff remunerations are still due or pending? We need to look at how much budget is needed? Also, we do have issues with the gratuities. 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."
}