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{
    "id": 1570215,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1570215/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 106,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ali Roba",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Fund (NSSF) totalling Kshs6 billion, matching allocation to the County Aggregated Industrial Parks (CAIPS) totalling Kshs11.8 billion, matching allocation for Community Health Promoters (CHPs) totalling Kshs3.23 billion, the annual wage increment amounting to Kshs6.3 billion and the basic salary increment, as per the Doctor’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) No.217/21 execution of Return to Work Formula amounting to Kshs3.5 billion. This is coupled with the fact that the shareable revenue of the Government of Kenya has been gradually increasing. The last meaningful increase in county government revenue occurred in the Financial Year 2020/2021 when the last third basis formulae of revenue sharing was implemented. At that time, the shareable revenue increased from Kshs316 billion to Kshs370 billion. Thereafter, it is important to note that the shareable revenue only marginally increased. The following year, it remained at Kshs370 billion; these were the COVID-19 pandemic years. Thereafter, it increased from Kshs370 billion to Kshs385 billion and later to Kshs387.425 billion. The cumulative increase in shareable revenue for county governments over five years amounts to approximately Kshs70 billion, while the national Government’s shareable revenue increase over the past five years amounts to approximately Kshs770 billion or an increase of about 10 per cent. This is the wisdom that informed the Senate’s decision to pass the DORA at Kshs465 billion. The goal was not for Senators to argue over the formula or county allocations but to fight for a larger shareable revenue to address their concerns. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this decision was also shaped by consultations, as mentioned by my colleagues; Sen. Sifuna, Sen. Wambua and the Senate Majority Leader. We have held two consultation periods, guided by your leadership. The Committee, along with the Secretariat, has made itself available. The purpose of these meetings was to consult and address any thorny issues that might arise. Based on the experience of the third basis formulae of revenue sharing, the goal was to cushion the country from potential Senate disputes and ensure that all 47 counties are carried along together. This morning, in consultation with the 13 attendees, we arrived at a position regarding the smaller counties I mentioned: Elgeyo-Marakwet, Embu, Isiolo, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Lamu, Nyamira, Samburu, Taita-Taveta, Tharaka-Nithi and Vihiga. These counties face challenges in remaining viable unless they receive some form of cushioning. The proposal that came in, which now is the property of the House, is that we set aside within the formula Kshs2 billion to be shared equally among these 11 counties in order to carry everybody along. The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget has carried this responsibility on behalf of the entire Senate. While the Committee Members represent their respective counties, as the Chair, I could not allow them to advocate solely for their counties in situations that favor them. We must ensure that all 47 county governments are considered in the proposals we make. Similarly, this Senate should not be influenced by individual efforts to push agenda that favour specific counties. Instead, we must focus on how to collectively"
}