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{
    "id": 1623122,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1623122/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 4549,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Samburu West, KANU",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Naisula Lesuuda",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "moved from the 13 counties and went further to wards. A ward gets about Ksh7 million. The Equalisation Fund was to move us from where we were to where the rest of the country was. Now, if we continue with the policy that we have – I know there is another policy coming up – we have to give the money to the counties, which the Constitution speaks about, so that the Equalisation Fund can make sense. Those counties can also move from where we were to where we are. Every time we request the allocation of additional funds in the Budget as counties that are beneficiaries of the Equalisation Fund, we are told we already have it. It is this same House that raided the counties that were to be beneficiaries of the Equalisation Fund. We must discuss it. I am happy that in this budget, we have addressed the issue of the last mile. In some of our counties where I come from, some money would be taken in, and it would cater for long lines of electricity. We all know and understand that electricity is a game-changer, just as water. There are counties or constituencies that no longer require any transformers. They have electricity up to nowhere. But some counties need electricity. In my county, we are less than 20 per cent. I am sure that Marakwet and Marsabit are the same. When using the funds allocated to the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), those concerned should focus on the counties and constituencies with minimal electricity coverage. As I get to the end, there is also the issue of water, which is key. It is important that we ensure that those areas where we have issues with water are also taken care of. In this Budget, we looked at it. I thank the departmental committees for their work. There is also the issue of Community Health Promoters. There is Ksh3.2 billion. On the issue of pending bills and corruption, we cannot continue to politicise those two issues. We have to either do it or not do it as a country. We also have to consider why we commit to what we do not have as a country, because that is why it becomes a pending bill. If a ministry or a department does not have the money, why are you engaging a contractor without the money? Without the Exchequer? We can romanticise and make it look good because we are defending contractors whose pending bills have not been paid. They should learn from the NG-CDF. The NG-CDF has received the highest bashing, but it is one of the best examples that people have to look at. You can never commit to what you do not have. If it is not in your code list, if you pay before, it will not be paid. We have to rethink as a country. Until you have the money, you cannot engage. But also, the issue of the Exchequer cannot be left to the National Treasury to decide who gets the money and who does not. Finally, I have seen the light has been put on. On the issue of corruption, the day we stop politicising corruption as a country is when it will work. It does not matter that you have shifted camps in the government today. It is almost becoming ridiculous, as Kenyans can see through the politics of corruption. If we are going for any Member of Parliament who is engaged in corruption, as a nation..."
}