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{
"id": 1570302,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1570302/?format=api",
"text_counter": 193,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "He says that in Makueni because of the nature of the topography and the unique circumstances of the county, they tried to convince national Government that they did not need CAIPS. They did not need single centres for aggregation of produce because of the diversity of produce in that county. It would be very expensive for some people or some of the farmers to transport products from one place to the centre. Mr. Speaker, Sir, he also gave us a very clear example that if you look at the amount of money increment for Makueni County in 2023, 2024, 2024, 2025, is about Kshs55 million only. However, in that same period, if you look at the fiscal responsibilities that have been put on the county because of the passage of laws that are here in the National Assembly and the Senate, for instance, on SHA and SHIF; this is a new levy that was introduced. The housing levy alone has added an additional burden to Makueni of Kshs55 million yet the annual increase in equitable revenue is Kshs52 million. So, it does not make any sense. So, we have said that year-on-year, we want to see marginal increase to cater for these things, including review of salaries and wages for the staff. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the final principle was that any shortfall in national or shareable revenue should be borne by the national Government. We have no problem. Whatever formula is adopted, the position that we have taken is that no county should lose, and we are willing to have that conversation with our colleagues. Now, there is some plea that has come from 11 of our colleagues who represent counties. They are calling small counties and we have a few questions for them. Number one, where did you pluck this Kshs6 billion figure from? What is the scientific basis for that figure? This is because although these conversations are complex, you owe a responsibility to explain to us where you got Kshs6 billion. Why not Kshs7 billion, Kshs5 billion or Kshs4 billion? Number two, if the argument is that most of this money goes to recurrent expenditure, we sit in the CPAC, and if you hear the stories in those counties, you will see that there is absolutely no justification to add the money. My view has always been that at the advent of devolution, people thought that counties existed to serve their tribes, that this was our county. It is the reason if you come from Bungoma and you go and apply for a job in Kakamega, they will tell you to go back to your county, even if you are a Bukusu born in Kakamega. Many people will not distinguish between a Kisii from Nyamira and one from Kisii County. However, they themselves at the local level know this one is from Nyamira and this one is from Kisii. Therefore, you cannot apply for jobs there because they will tell you, ‘your share is there, go and get yours there.’ That is the true situation. We had a county entity that came to CPAC and a governor has hired over 30 advisors. That county has only two constituencies and less than 10 MCAs, but he has hired for himself over 34 advisors. That is where the money for the county is going. The governor wants to go to every village and say, ‘I employed so-and-so's son, he is working in my county government.’ All of them, I think with the exception of Nairobi, have never even complied with the requirement of ethnic balance in their counties, which is"
}