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{
"id": 1545740,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545740/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
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"content": "entire thing I remember sitting here with those Members, I do not want to mention their names, but they know themselves. Mr. Speaker, Sir, they told us in no uncertain terms that if they do not get RMLF, we will not get Division of Revenue. I have told Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale's Committee the same thing; that, in fact, if they do not get these RMLF funds, they do not care whether CHPs are being paid. I am very happy that, as a Committee, you are able to distinguish these things, separate them and let that controversy over RMLF be resolved in the courts, in accordance with the law. It is very callous, even for the Members of the National Assembly, the 17 of them from Nairobi. I do not think that they would feel proud that CHPs, the 7,400 CHPs in Nairobi, can go without pay for all these months just because they want to continue to build roads. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want, therefore, to say that we hope that, that controversy is resolved. As people who understand the Constitution and people who understand devolution, we know that the Council of Governors and this Senate are on the right side. I do not think we are the enemies of devolution. We have stood very firm on the Floor of this House, in our committees and even when we were doing mediation on division of revenue, to make it very clear to the National Assembly that, first of all, we are not enemies of the National Assembly, we have an oath that we swore on this Constitution to defend county governments and their interests. If the Constitution says a certain role is to be executed by the devolved units, we have a responsibility to defend that position. So, when we say that it is our belief, both as a Senate, as a Senator of Nairobi, as SG of ODM, as a member of ODM, that RMLF should be fully devolved, the entire amount should go to the county governments, it is because that is what the law says. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if you look at the First Schedule, you will see that, for us in Nairobi, really, we were concerned with only two issues. Number one is, of course, the issue of the road maintenance levy. We have a budget of about Kshs390 million in the supplementary budget for 2024/2025 for maintenance of roads. Those of you who have been moving around our estates in Nairobi--- I can see the Deputy Speaker looking at me because he is not very happy with the situation of the roads in Nairobi. I am sure all of you have problems. You go to places in Kilimani, Eastleigh and everywhere, our roads are in a pathetic shape. We were hoping that this impasse is resolved because it is also acknowledged that we need the resources to do these roads. Therefore, we hope that it will be resolved as soon as possible. You can see on the First Schedule, we have the Kshs224 million, which is sufficient to cover the stipend of Kshs2,500 for 7,464 CHPs for 12 months. Then, there is an amount that has been allocated there for basic salary arrears for county government health workers. When the Majority Leader was here, he spoke about these health workers always showing up at our gate here. Last week, there was such an event, just before we broke for recess. You asked me and the Senator for Meru to go and speak to them. I was very happy that we are not just paying lip service. The Majority Leader was not here. We were very proud that as a House under the leadership of the 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."
}