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{
    "id": 1566700,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1566700/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 117,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion by the Chairperson of our Committee on Finance and Budget. This is what has been termed as a ritual. I believe someone referred to it as a ritual, which no one adheres to. This should be of concern to us. I am, however, concerned with what is prescribed as a solution, eventually, to this problem. I have listened to colleagues try to figure out what exactly we can do to ensure that the National Treasury complies with this Disbursement Schedule that we pass. It is important to bring to the attention of colleagues that while we do this ritual every year, there is no record for the years that devolution has been in existence, that there has been compliance with the Schedule to the exact date and time. Mr. Speaker, Sir, much as people may not agree to it, this is the closest we have ever come to a disbursement schedule because many counties are either catching up with March or April. We have had instances in the past where we have gotten to June and counties have not received their December disbursements. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I know you know this for a fact. You have served as a county governor. This problem does not seem to be going away anytime soon. Therefore, as the Senate of the Republic, we must think creatively and find ways that are practical that will eventually make our counties economically viable. As they are today, this is not possible. Look at what we are passing in this Disbursement Schedule. We are passing additional resources, Kshs2.9 billion for the CAIPs. Sen. Roba must convince us that in the next Division of Revenue or when he does CARA, 2025, those counties that are yet to receive their counter-matching funds for CAIPs will be considered. Otherwise, we will suffer the prejudice of having passed resources to other counties to the detriment of other counties. There is Kshs3.24 billion that is being passed to CHPs. How unfair? It is either you have a job or you do not. If we are sending resources in the month of May to pay these people that have been working throughout the year, are we being fair to these Community Health Promoters? I just wish that we were plain and honest and told them that they do not have a salary. I know it is a stipend, but even that stipend must be timely. As much as Kshs5,000 may look like nothing to many people, if it comes in a timely manner, it could help people get by, but we are sending it at the end of the financial year. There is even an extra Kshs1.8 billion, which is basic salary arrears for health workers across our counties. I told the House last week or two months ago that we must reflect and begin to feel embarrassed that every time you hear there is a demonstration outside the Senate; nine out of 10 times, it will be health workers and it is for one reason or the other. We must confront this issue of remuneration to health workers at the county level. It is clear that there was no elaborate plan and everybody keeps pussyfooting about it. No one is clear and certain of when and how their matters will eventually be resolved. That situation cannot continue to obtain. 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."
}