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{
    "id": 1562255,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1562255/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 431,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr Davis Chirchir",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members. Let me start with the Question by Hon. Jack Wamboka Wanami. The criterion used in withholding Ksh10.5 billion was this: Hon. Members, you will recall that between 2016 and 2021, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and KeRRA portions of the RMLF money were administered and managed by the county governments. In 2021, a decision was made to return the management of that money to the national Government due to certain administrative concerns at the time. The RLMF portion, which is about 40 per cent, has never been devolved to the counties. The merit we employed and the contest by the county governments was more on what they felt was within the ambit of Schedule Four of the Constitution in defining the national and county roads. Basically, that is what we employed to withhold the 15 per cent of the 47 per cent, because the 32 per cent for KeRRA and 15 per cent for KURA, add up to 47 per cent. Hon. Speaker, we employed a formula of withholding a portion of 15 out of 47 and 32 out of the 47 in that ratio. Hon. Members, I am more positive in seeking to resolve this issue amicably because in as much as it impacts Members of Parliament, it is a challenge that impacts all Kenyans. We, therefore, need to resolve this as soon as possible. Like I said, Ksh10.5 billion is a lot of money and at such a time, if we release these resources to you, we will address a number of the major challenges affecting the entire country. To combine that question by Hon. Jack Wanami and my Chairman, Hon. GK, the Member of Parliament for Ndia Constituency, we are seriously seeking the soonest opportunity with the chairperson of the mediation committee, at a high level, with appropriate leadership that can basically resolve this issue in one sitting, and allow this resource to build this country and work for us. I believe we should do this within this financial year because it is not helpful to anybody having that money unallocated and earning interest. We are losing so much given the state of our roads. Movement of goods and people is basically impaired. Regarding the question by Hon. Kiplangat, DK, we will be releasing the balance of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) next week. I have been given the numbers. I am here with the Director- General of the Kenya Roads Board (KRB). We will be releasing the balance next week. We have the numbers and even as we withhold, we seek to ensure that we resolve this challenge and release the full amount of Ksh10.5 billion. The balance of Ksh3.533 billion, which is outstanding to the end of the financial year, will be released next week in the ratio of 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."
}