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{
    "id": 1581318,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1581318/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 96,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Abass",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Kenya. The unfortunate thing is that our colleagues in the National Assembly have taken these budget issues as part of their property and responsibility. We know many of the Members who are in the committee on Budget and Appropriation in the National Assembly have a special budget mandate that they receive for their constituencies, which is illegal by itself. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we are almost begging to be given money for the counties. The division is based on the audited accounts of the Financial Year 2021/2022. Four years down the line, we are still using the same old audited accounts, yet the Auditor General has done it up to 2024. We need to change this business of basing our equitable share on four years, three years’ backwards, so that at least the counties can get their money. I also commend the Members for giving affirmative action to the 12 counties that have been receiving less money. I can see Lamu, which is one of our most strategic counties in terms of tourism, is still getting Kshs3.8 billion. As much as we say that the county is small, it has a very important strategic position in this country's tourism sector. We need to have a baseline. Despite each one getting Kshs371.6 million, Lamu is still receiving a very low budget. We will need to look, especially in the current budget, where the reality can be added for Lamu. Counties are also receiving equalisation funds and additional funds from donors in terms of grants and loans. In my county, we are getting about Kshs10.5 billion. With whatever is coming from the donors and loans, it is going to be about Kshs12 billion. This can make a wonderful development for the country. As the Chairperson of the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, I think the amount of money being used for recurrent expenditure is unbelievable. Less money goes to development in most of the counties. There are counties that are spending less than even 10 per cent for development. If this will continue, then we will not go far. This Senate is struggling hard to get more money. Every day we were talking to the budget being increased, but whatever increase has been given, must be commensurate to development. All this money that has been increased now should go to development. Money is being used for recurrent expenditure. Even some of the budget for development is used for recurrent expenditure through supplementary budgets, which is prohibited. I request the Committee on Finance and Budget to review the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act. This is because every day we are struggling to give money to counties, yet we cannot control it. It is a futile undertaking. Audit reports coming from the counties are so worrying. Our committees of County Public Accounts (CPAC) and Public Investments (PIC) are every day in meetings, but of course, we have no authority to take action. The other day the Senator for Isiolo was raising a lot of concerns and making noise, but we could not even stop the use of the money. I will request this House to review the PFM Act, so that at least we can have a way to control the use of funds because a lot of money has been wasted for other purposes. The governors have taken this money as part of their properties. This is tax-based money. We must come up with a system for proper checks and balances. 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."
}