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{
    "id": 1545647,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545647/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 202,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Where I sat today in the Committee on Health, we were looking at how much is needed to pay the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers. Remember, these workers were the ones who were on the front line during the time of COVID-19 pandemic, when you and me were told to lock ourselves in the house and keep distance to be safe. Nonetheless, they were bold enough to be on the front line to stand for this country. The budget that is needed to meet what they keep on carrying placards every day, it is just about Kshs4 billion. I am happy I have seen the budget that the Cabinet Secretary was able to state that medical practitioners 2017 CBA was agreed to. This money is budgeted for in this financial year. It is about Kshs1.7 billion. Subsequently, when it comes to the medical industry, there should not be a separation of this cadre of a medical worker or the other. They are all important and they play key roles in this country. Thus, when it comes to these budgets, it should be fair. Let the counties get what they need to. The issue of OSR, as I mentioned earlier, is one that the county governments should also speed up on. We want to have a uniform system that helps collect own source revenue and stop depending on the national Government. We are concerned. I know there was a time the President proposed a team to look at the audit questions as far as debt is concerned. Politics led the day when that proposal came. Certainly, I am sure as the Cabinet Secretary mentioned today, that the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) will look into this. Kenyans will know the debt and how to reduce it so as to improve on our OSR. I encourage the governors and county governments that as much as the Senate fights for you for additional allocation, work on reducing your pending bills. It is so painful that we push for more funding to the counties, but the pending bills are increasing each and every year. What are we doing to Kenyans? The cry that is out there for Kenyans is the current situation of the economy because money is not moving. If these things cannot be sorted, then our people will continue crying. We look at the domestic borrowing versus the external borrowing. We are at 65 per cent domestic and 35 per cent borrowing from external. What are we doing to the private sector? I also noticed that even the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) rates for the bank are not being fully implemented by all the banks. Where do we leave the private sector? We cannot all fit within the space of the Government sector. The private sector plays a very key role. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I appreciate my Committee Members led by my very good Chair, Sen. (Capt.) Ali Roba, Senior (Dr.) Boni Khalwale, Sen. Faki, Sen. Shakila, Sen. Okenyuri, Sen. Mariam Omar and Sen. Onyonka, because these are matters that we have deliberated on very highly as a committee. I also want to appreciate the secretariat led by Gitonga, Beverline, Lucy, Kioko and all the team that we worked very closely with to ensure we are able to give good report. With those many remarks, I beg to reply and request that the putting of the question be deferred to a later day pursuant to Standing Order No. 66 (3)."
}