HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1604250,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1604250/?format=api",
"text_counter": 205,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I want to insist that this is a principle of equity. When we were coming up with the formula, we wanted to ensure that each county does not lose and that no county gains more. In this simulation, I have seen some counties gaining Kshs2 billion and others are only gaining Kshs200 million. Giving Kshs200 million to counties like Elgeyo Marakwet, Taita Taveta, Embu or Isiolo is not in good faith. Therefore, the simulation where each and every county will gain Kshs405.6 million will be very significant. That is why most of these counties cannot do significant or important developments in their counties. As we look at this simulation, we must be aware of this. I have seen that the budget will be read on Thursday, a budget worth Kshs4 trillion. It is sad that Members of National Assembly rejected an increment to counties of Kshs465 billion. That is an affront to the principle of equity and division of revenue. I stand today on the basis of win-win for Lamu County. I stand today for the win- win for Taita Taveta County. I stand today in support of Kirinyaga, Embu, Nyamira, Isiolo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties because they deserve equity like all of us. If Elgeyo Marakwet wins, Nandi wins. If Isiolo wins, Mandera wins. If Nyamira wins, Nakuru wins. We must push the principle of equity. It cannot be that a county gets Kshs2 billion yet a small county like Nyamira gets a paltry millions of shillings. I rise on the pedestal of history, on the principle of equity. It is said that when the madness of an entire nation disturbs a solitary mind, it is not enough to say the man is mad. We must push for a win-win situation. As we push, we cannot blame Elgeyo Marakwet, Taita Taveta, Nyamira, Isiolo, Embu and Lamu counties for underdevelopment yet when we are doing division of resources, we do not consider their uniqueness. I support the amendment by my Senior. Leo ninarudisha mkono . He defended me when I was in police custody. He dismantled my charges within seconds. He actually did it in one minute and 59 seconds. Therefore, I rise to support the people of Lamu. As a Senate, we should not reduce ourselves to our own counties. There is a reason as to why we say that we are Senators of the Republic of Kenya, elected by respective counties to represent the interests of all counties. When I speak here, I speak on behalf of Nandi, Nakuru, Nyamira, Kirinyaga, Wajir, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Migori, Taita Taveta, Kajiado, Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties. I also speak on behalf of Embu County. If there is a time when I have been proud of my senior colleague in the profession, Sen. Omogeni, the Commissioner, then it is today. This is because he is pushing us to look at the principle of equity. I want to challenge the Members of National Assembly. When we demand for more resources, they tell us that there is corruption in the counties. My question is: What are they doing about corruption in the national Government? What are they doing? It is shameful for them to tell us that they cannot add money to our people who are suffering. In fact, we are going to scrap the National Government-Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) because it is an unconstitutional kitty. It violates the Constitution. I want to stand with the decision of the Supreme Court that we should only channel funds to two entities: national executive and counties. If Members of the 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."
}