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{
    "id": 1550598,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1550598/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 529,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Endebess, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Another issue with the Equalisation Fund is about what it achieves on the ground. The Constitution intended the Fund to benefit areas left behind following the implementation of Sessional Paper No.10 of 1965. These areas are mainly in arid and semi-arid regions. However, when you look at the formula, you will find that certain areas are being allocated very little money, such that one has a project worth Ksh1 million or Ksh2 million. What can we achieve with such a small amount of money? That is why we are calling for a review of the formula to ensure it benefits those areas. When you look at the areas where the money was initially released in the arid and semi-arid regions, you will not find any tangible project achieved with that money. We have spent a lot of time arguing about whether the Fund should be implemented by the counties or at the constituency level. We have even ended up in Court to resolve this matter. However, the Constitution clearly states that the national Government should implement those projects through its other agencies. The governors referred to Article 204(2) of the Constitution, which states that the national Government may utilise county governments and other agencies. Therefore, the word \"may\" should not be the basis for taking other institutions to Court regarding the implementation of the Equalisation Fund. We need to allow the Equalisation Fund to achieve its main objective as envisioned in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, to improve areas that have been neglected in terms of education, health, electricity, and water so that they can be in tandem with the rest of the country. We also urge the county governments to look at their own-source revenue. Currently, many county governments cannot meet their revenue targets because of pilferages, losses, or theft. Either they have not automated their systems, or they are not diligent in terms of own- source revenue collection. Counties like Homa Bay have digitised their systems, and their revenue collection has risen. That is the county the Temporary Speaker comes from. Therefore, 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."
}