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{
    "id": 1566214,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1566214/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 264,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kisang’",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, this is still a proposal and I believe the National Treasury and CoG have a conversation. I am not speaking for the National Treasury, the governors or the county governments. I was just raising what is outside there and also as an expert in the ICT industry. I occasionally get consulted free of charge and that is why I want to advise the House, free of charge this afternoon, that there is a conversation outside there and it is a good thing. I believe if a county like Nairobi City County, which already has such a system say they were able to raise revenue from Kshs10 billion to Kshs12 billion, then it is a good system. They can proceed with their own. No one should be forced. If it is free, why not go for it? Madam Temporary Speaker, I am speaking because the county where I come from does not have Kshs50 million, Kshs30 million or Kshs100 million to pay for software. We will go for this system. We will be glad to get that system because we do not have that kind of money to buy software. Those who have resources like Narok, because they get a lot of revenue from the conservancy and the Masai Mara Game reserve can buy their own. We also need to put the governors to check. Why are they not collecting enough revenue? Every year, all counties budget a lot in terms of own-source revenue. However, by the end of each financial year, they will have only collected 40 or 50 per cent. In the process, they accrue a lot of pending bills. We need to audit and check. Say, if last year, Elgeyo Marakwet County collected Kshs200 million, we should not accept their proposal to collect Kshs500 million. What miracle is there for them to double? They should progressively add around 10, 15 or 20 per cent. Otherwise, at the end of the day, we will have a lot of pending bills. People are going to suffer. They will be given tenders to do work at the counties and there are no resources to pay for works that have been done. There is also something that is not going right in our counties. When the CoB approves expenditures, some governors divert. The Senator for Narok was saying all governors divert. Instead of paying those that have been approved, they pay their friends. They pay where they know they will get a cut, like 10 or 20 per cent. However, those genuinely whom the CoB approved payment for, do not get money. Madam Temporary Speaker, as the Senate, we want the CoB to automate the release of payments and then ensure that the counties do not have an opportunity to replace the payees. The only thing they can do is reduce the amount. For example, if they requested for Kshs20 million for a particular supplier, they can only reduce to it to Kshs15 million or 12 million. They should not change the supplier. This is what the CoB should do and put in place. I know tomorrow we will be meeting and discussing the formula. I urge my colleagues, for the sake of equity and helping the younger brother, we should sit down and see how we can ensure our counties that are getting less than Kshs6 billion are cushioned, so that we at least move, do work and do something meaningful for our counties. We want the small counties have good hospitals and Level 5 hospitals. 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."
}