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{
    "id": 1566177,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1566177/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 227,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "If we are not alive to the fact that there are limitations, we will be unfair to the current and the future generations. People will commit suicide because their pending bills have not been paid and yet there is nothing we are doing. We passed a Motion here, but implementation has become a challenge. So, when we are talking about amending the Constitution, it is because there are things that do not work, particularly financial management. There are a lot of companies that collect revenue on behalf of county governments. They are required by Section 109 of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act and the Constitution to remit 100 per cent of the money that they collect to the County Revenue Fund for them to pay for their services. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, whenever these companies bill for their services, they are not paid and this creates a problem. So, you want this person to raise money for you, but you do not want to pay him. Secondly, on sharable revenue, the law says that the National Assembly shall consider the most current audited financial statements. Guess what happens? Since we are uncouth, insincere and we do not subscribe to the principle of financial responsibility, we then play monkey games. We do not audit the current financial statements because we do not want to send more money to counties. We must come of age, so that we can be measured among other developing nations. Kenya is slowly developing. This is seen in the freedoms we have here; the ability for us to raise money. Therefore, we must live to that standard. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it will make sense to amend the Constitution to all these companies collecting revenue on behalf of county governments, deduct their agreed share and remit the balance to counties. If that is done, more money will reach to counties. Currently, you have to send 100 per cent of the money collected in accordance to the provisions of the PFM Act, Section 109 and Article 207 of the Constitution of Kenya. It is a pity that after you have sent all collected money to a county, you now go and beg the county governor to pay for your services. This demoralizes you to the point where you do not even disclose how much money you have been able to collect. In fact, Article 207 of the Constitution mirrors Section 109 of the PFM Act. In conclusion, I want to reiterate the fact that as a House, all of us must read this report. Secondly, we must always have a sense of occasion. All of us must debate on facts to be able to guide this nation. We must come out and say that whatever we are debating is what our good committee has undertaken. We should not always deviate. There is always urge to deviate and talk about current affairs and regional politics, but it does not make sense. What will make sense, is if all of us understand the report being submitted by the Committee. The distinguished Senators sat down and burnt the midnight oil to be able to demystify the proposals from the National Assembly. It would only be better for us if we can read them. After reading them and having a conversation with the Members of that Committee, I firmly believe that the only way that devolution will work is if we send the Kshs450 billion that we agreed between ODM and Kenya Kwanza. In the worst-case scenario, we send money that can take care of the all expenditures. 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."
}