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{
    "id": 1583247,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1583247/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 205,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Bondo, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Gideon Ochanda",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "As I look forward to contribute properly to this Motion, I remind myself and the entire House a number of things. Definitely, there has to be a formula, in terms of how we share resources horizontally. Besides that, as much as the Chairperson has brought us what the Senate has looked at, I believe there are many other things that are not yet looked at properly. One of these factors is the constitutional considerations that we have. There are provisions in Article 203 of the Constitution. It states the criteria that shall be taken into account in determining the equitable shares of the revenue raised nationally between the national Government and county governments. Article 203(1)(d) of the Constitution states there is the need to ensure that county governments are able to perform the functions that are allocated to them. When looking at the allocation of revenue to counties, who has ascertained or computed the county functions and their value before we allocate them resources? The other important factor that the Constitution provides, that has not been looked at, is the fiscal capacity and efficiency of county governments. The CRA needs to look at these things before we allocate money to these counties. When you consider these factors, we have counties which need be closed down. These are critical factors and constitutional provisions that we really need to look at every single time that we are allocating resources. Two months ago, we placed more money into counties in the name of additional funding. We passed a Motion and gave them more money. At what stage do we consider these additional monies allocated to counties, especially when we are doing the horizontal placement of resources? The whole issue of additional funding is a critical matter that needs to be looked at in terms of functions that the national Government is still performing on behalf of the counties. Where are those monies? Where do we look for them? For example, take the issue of markets. In the last financial year, we placed a lot of money in markets, which is a function of county governments, done by the national Government. Another issue is that of grants. Each year, there are grants disbursed to counties. However, at the point where we determine what resources go to which counties, nobody knows the counties that have been getting grants. For example, Embu is listed among the counties that deserve increased allocations. But when you look at grants, you find that Embu has received more in grants than Busia over the past few years. This is an issue that must be revisited. We must ask ourselves: where do we usually allocate our grants? When discussing additional revenues, where do those revenues go? These are factors that should be evaluated consistently when allocating resources. Finally, we are allocating resources to counties where the Equalisation Fund has also placed resources. The Constitution outlines the purpose and target areas for the Equalisation Fund. Why are we again directing resources to those same counties using the same indicators? What this means is that some counties are receiving double allocations. One from the Equalisation Fund and another from horizontal allocations. These allocations are based on identical criteria. These are critical factors that we need to evaluate moving forward. One day, someone will challenge us in court. Why are we not adhering to constitutional The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for informationpurposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}