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{
"id": 1581333,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1581333/?format=api",
"text_counter": 111,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Ali Roba",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Even as the Senate tries to push as hard as possible for more money and looking at what is happening in our country, last year, there were demonstrations and a lot of destruction. We want the Government to make more money, so that we can push for money for the county governments. Last year demonstrations had genuine Gen Zs, but this year, they were packaged differently and into organized crime, in the name of Gen Zs. Sincerely speaking, this is a very painful thing. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I sit in this Senate and in my entire flying career before I joined politics was in war-torn countries; Chad, South Sudan in Darfur, Somalia, Afghanistan, Congo and the Central African Republic. I have seen what anarchy can do to countries. It is a pity that some of our politicians have tried to agitate for anarchy in our country by way of sponsored hooligans in the name of Gen Zs, fighting for something they believe is right. This led to wanton destruction of properties. That will go a long way in the reduction of the country’s performance, and spoiling the country’s image. The idea that if it is not us, no one else should run this country or if it is not us, the country should burn, is a very unfortunate position. The Senate is an awkward position to push for more money for counties, but the reality of the Government’s performance on the fiscal space of collecting money to share vertically between the two levels of government is that the situation is getting from bad to worse. The Committee did its best under the circumstances to try and push up to Kshs415 billion, which is Kshs28 billion additional, over and above the Kshs387.425 that was for last year. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you co-chaired and mediated to that level. Therefore, under the circumstances, the Kshs28 billion is reasonable if you consider that, that is the highest increment in a five-year period. The last reasonable adjustment of county governments’ shareable revenue happened in 2020/2021 when the Third Basis of revenue sharing was being discussed. At that time, it moved from Kshs316 billion to Kshs370 billion, which was about Kshs54 billion increase. Between 2021 to 2024/2025, the total marginally increased to Kshs370 billion to Kshs387.425 billion. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, moving from Kshs387.425 billion to Kshs415 billion, an increase of over Kshs28 billion, is a commendable job under the circumstances in the country and the environment we are in; where peace should have contributed to more collection of revenues. The perception in the country on how we are perceived and seen as a nation would have helped in attracting more foreign investment and helped us get more sound growth of our revenues. As I reply, I would to also thank the Senate for their wisdom to agree with the Committee that the 12 smaller counties needed some affirmative action within the formulae. The Kshs415 billion guarantees the position the Senate approved for the 12 counties to get Kshs4.46 billion. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply and request, pursuant to Standing Order No. 66(3) of the Senate Standing Orders, that you defer the putting of the question to a later date. I thank you."
}