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{
    "id": 1570341,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1570341/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 232,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Agriculture is a devolved function. The only thing that remains at the centre is policy. Sen. (Dr.) Murango was a very able Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. We know that there are budgets in Nairobi that should be pushed down. I am happy that those presiding over the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development nowadays have seen the light. Is it Saul who became Paul? Even though they brought fertiliser here for us to sniff and touch – I remember Sen. (Dr.) Murango sniffing the fertiliser – now they have realised that what they were sniffing were proceeds from a donkey mixed with sand and other things. Let us send that money to the counties. That way, we will be bridging the gap between Kshs387 billion and Kshs450 billion. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if we were to carry out a comprehensive review of this formula, I would suggest a few things. We need to bring in a fiscal responsibility measure. There is too much fiscal irresponsibility, but there is no way to punish it. For our governors, they only punishment they understand is either to give or take away money from them. In the first formula, we had 2 per cent. In the second one, we also had 2 per cent. How I wish we considered a fiscal responsibility index. From where I sit as the Chairperson of the CPAC, there are a few counties that have done fairly well. If you look at their wage bill, they are below 30 per cent of the 35 per cent that is required by law. If you look at their development, they are above the 30 per cent required. It is not all doom and gloom when it comes to devolution. Out of the 47 counties, I believe we can highlight 10 counties that are fiscally responsible. However, at the bottom of the pile, there is serious irresponsibility. Sen. Sifuna has just narrated some of the scenarios we have come across. I have seen a schedule of counties that we are calling “small by revenue” circulating. Isiolo is not a small county; it is supposed to be the capital of Kenya. It was designated as such under the Vision 2030. Isiolo is at the centre of Kenya and that is where the centre of gravity of this nation ought to be. Let us not call it small because of this allocation. If you were to add own source revenue, ideally Isiolo should have many economic activities. Let us put pressure on the state to live to the aspirations of the Vision 2030 and take services, facilities and activities to Isiolo. That way, it will no longer be called a small county. When you tell me that you want Isiolo to get Kshs6 billion, I will also challenge the proponents of that argument to advise me on how to hold accountable the leadership of Isiolo County. That could have been achieved through a fiscal responsibility index. They are doing bad things in terms of employment of advisors and Chief Officers (COs). You will find that a county has got six County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) with 10 Members of County Assembly (MCAs), but there are 36 advisors and 36 COs. It means that under every Ministry, there are about five or six accounting officers. Even Nairobi with more complex functions does not have that kind of crimp when it comes to advisors and COs. If there was 2 or 3 per cent to be shared by 10 counties that are doing a good job then those pulling at the bottom get nothing, I would have supported this formula more robustly."
}