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{
"id": 1625583,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625583/?format=api",
"text_counter": 334,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "On Friday, I had an occasion of attending a retirement party of Mwalimu Limo in Kamakap in Aldai. I was able to pass by a dispensary, called Kibwareng and you could find there is no sufficient drugs and the provision of medical services is wanting. So, the county allocation of revenue to counties should jumpstart. The Mover of the Motion, Sen. Mutinda, has alluded to the issue of pending bills. As we talk, it is almost Kshs200 billion that are pending bills. The reason we push for more increment to counties is to ensure counties are able to pay their first charge, which is pending bills. It is sad, when you go to Kisumu, Busia, all the way to Mandera counties, there are so many young businessmen and women who have suffered diabetes or high blood pressure because their only mistake was to work for county governments. They are yet to be paid. A few months ago, somebody in one of our counties had to walk naked, because they are yet to be paid. Most of the projects that are being done by our businessmen and women, including Nandi County, are yet to be paid by the county governments, yet most of them, took Local Purchase Orders (LPOs) to get loans, guaranteed with their land and money. Can you believe there are Kenyans, who provided for service and goods in counties that are yet to be paid? What do they use the money that we give to county governments for? The reason the devolution was brought was to give opportunity to many Kenyans across our counties to have an opportunity to do business in our counties. Even here, in Nairobi City County, there was a case of legal fees of almost Kshs2 billion, that is yet to be paid. In fact, 60 to 80 per cent of the pending bills that is around Kshs200 billion, comes from Nairobi City County. Today, there was a Statement of most of the stalled projects in this county. You have seen occasion when it rains, the roads within the city that should be maintained by the County Government of Nairobi City, are yet to be achieved. I remember the Governor used to say, “Lazima iwork” However, it looks like it does not work. So, some of these challenges that we are facing, including the issue of pending bills, must be considered so that counties can have opportunity to put in place. Thirdly, Madam Temporary Speaker, I know the Controller of Budget (CoB) has been having a problem. We have had sittings on a number of occasions. I want to challenge Members of the Committee on Finance and Budget to sit with the CoB. Another challenge is that most counties make requisitions. The elephant in the room is voiding of payments. You will find somebody requesting to pay “A” but when money is released to a County Revenue Fund (CRF) account, they pay “B”. That is when voiding of payments happens. For example, there was voiding of payments in my county of almost Kshs500 million. They tell the CoB that they are going to pay “Y”, but they pay “Z”. That is what is killing counties. I do not know whether you need to look nice for governors to pay or something like that. It does not make sense that we push for increment, but the issue of pending bills or the CoB--- Madam Temporary Speaker, I know governors are very uncomfortable with the CoB. You are also aware about that because you sit with us in this House and also in a number of committees. We need to ask the Controller of Budget, Dr. Nyakang’o, to be on the lookout because we do not want requisitions to be made by counties after we have 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."
}