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{
    "id": 1565848,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565848/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 263,
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    "content": "government, the English used is very simple and basic, that it is at least 15 per cent. So the argument there should be that whatever you do, that allocation should not be less than 15 per cent of the nationally collected revenue. That 15 per cent is not a dictate. The real analysis of that provision is that you can decide to give even 80 per cent of the nationally collected revenue to counties and give 20 per cent to the national Government. That is the interpretation provided that you do not give county governments less than 15 per cent of the nationally collected revenue. What does nationally collect revenue mean? We are talking about monies collected in every corner of this country. It is very unfair to the remote parts of our country where revenues are collected and so little of it is ploughed back to those regions. The people of Kaningo in Mwingi North and Usweni who are your neighbours in Mwingi North, the people of Athi, who border Kibwezi and Makueni County, contribute to the nationally collected revenue in this country. They need the monies ploughed back to them for service delivery. On the issue of roads, it is ridiculous that we will collect money from all over, including the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF). I am very happy that the Prime Minister will be here tomorrow. I am very sure he is very passionate about the matter of the RMLF. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we collect money from all over the country because vehicles are being fueled all over the country. Then you take almost the entire amount of money and you give it to national Government road agencies to roll out projects. Yet the bulk of the people who have contributed to that fund continue to suffer bad roads. It is time that this Senate put their foot on the ground and insist that we will stick to Kshs465 billion allocated to the county governments. Lastly, to the members of the National Assembly. We will take the invitation to go into mediation on this Bill, but they should know that the country is watching. Every Kenyan lives in a county. I do not know the problem Members of the National Assembly have with devolution. I have said before and I want to go back on record that the biggest enemy of devolution in this country, first in that list is the National Assembly. Why would you want to allocate less money to roll out functions in your constituencies, functions that are affecting your own family members; your own constituents? If we send more money to counties and it is used to roll out health programmes, do water projects and roads, it is the people in the constituencies represented by members of the National Assembly who stand to benefit. I do not see why we should be having this argument all the time, every year over division of revenue. Every time this fight comes up the National Assembly is allocating less money while the Senate wants more money. I do not know why this battle is important, but because we have been invited into this battle, we will get into the ring. We will fight and win for the Kenyans living in our counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those many remarks, I support the report of the Finance and Budget Committee and the proposed amendments to the Bill."
}