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{
    "id": 1566382,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1566382/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 135,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We predicted very well, because at that particular time because I was a member of the Committee on Finance and Budget, that there will come a time where we will not be able to meet our financial obligations because of that kind of unchecked borrowing. We are now in that space where we are struggling to pay debt and, therefore, we are told we must tighten our belts. I agree tighten our belts we will, but you cannot begin tightening your belts from those that consumed the least, which is devolution. If it is tightening our belts, then let us see that action commensurate with regards to the budget that is left with the national Government. That is why Senators have spoken and have said that Kshs450 billion is a minimum and that we are very clear about. Our Committee on Finance and Budget has proposed Kshs465 billion which is even better. This is because, our colleagues in the National Assembly have told us that we have no business looking into the budget of the national Government. We have said; fine, we do not want to know what the details entail, but at least, give us Kshs465 billion we take back to the 47 devolved units and then you find the money to run your operations in the rest of the departments and state organs. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if someone does not stand up for devolution, it will be killed. I wish Sen. Moses Kajwang’ was here because he walked out as I was rising to speak to maybe to attend to something. The other day I said that we are concerned by the audit reports that continue to be brought to this House. If you can recall, before the end of last session, we hurriedly passed resolutions of almost all the 47 county governments’ audit reports because of an imposition of a timeline by the courts. However, we said we shall find time to revisit and check on the operations of our specific county governments. That exercise needs to happen and happen now. I know that there are members of the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) who are in the House. I request them, with a lot of humility, to lead the exercise because that is ordinarily their work. That is the work of this Committee. This House has charged them with the responsibility of ensuring that once we have done the battle and have brought the goods home, they are used prudently for the improvement of the welfare of our citizens. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if you recall that particular debate on that afternoon which I also remember because I made a contribution just like my colleague Senators, we pointed out that there were certain glaring maladministration issues that were distinctively clear in almost all the 47 county governments without fail. There was the issue of minimal disposition of resources, hardly 20 per cent. Many counties are using only 15 to 22 per cent at the maximum, towards the actual development expenditure. That means close to 80 per cent is going to recurrent expenditure. That is not tenable. That cannot be viable. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like us to reflect on the speech made by Prime Minister Raila this morning in this House about the journey of devolution and why we, as a Senate, must always stand and defend. It must be recalled that on those reports we considered here as well, we were reminded that 35 out of the 47 county governments, if I"
}