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{
    "id": 1626469,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626469/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 145,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mandago",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "be lost that these 11 initially marginalised counties were receiving reasonable allocation of equitable share. If you look at the allocation for Turkana, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo counties vis-a-vis the geographical size and other challenges, they have received quite substantial amount of funds. If there was deliberate effort to deploy those resources to mitigate in these long-standing challenges in those counties, today, we would probably be speaking a different language. Madam Temporary Speaker, we also want to call on the National Treasury. As a House led by the Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, we need to cause an amendment to the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act. We must separate the Ministry of Finance for the national Government and the National Treasury that serves the two levels of Government, so that these funds can be released on time to be able to address the four key areas that were meant to be addressed. I am happy that Baringo County will receive Kshs967 million. I have seen the distribution. Tiati Constituency will receive Kshs582 million. Tiati as a constituency or sub-county is probably 10 times Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia and Elgeyo Marakwet counties combined in terms of geographical location. To provide some services in some of those places is quite a challenge. That is why we wish that the National Treasury would release all these equalisation funds on a timely manner so that these regions are able to benefit, services are rendered and the citizens of those places would be able to access what other Kenyans in other parts are enjoying I wish to implore our governors from these marginalised regions, having visited a number of facilities in those counties as the Senate Standing Committee on Health, that even as we send the Equalisation Fund, be concerned about the welfare of their people. It would not be in order to find a sub-county health facility or even a county referral facility in that region, where women are being asked to carry water as they go to the maternity facilities. We are not only discussing areas that are marginalised. In Nairobi City County, the Senator of Nairobi City County is aware that we visited a number of the facilities. A hospital like Mama Lucy Kibaki is still suffering from a lot of problems in terms of congestion. There is no expansion, yet if you look at the allocation going to Nairobi City County, including their own social revenue, they should have done better than what we are seeing. I call upon the governors in those 11 original marginalised counties, to focus in solving these historical problems that we have had, using both the equalisation funds that we are sending and also the equitable share. I would want to ask particularly the governors for Turkana and West Pokot counties where we experience floods that cut the roads all the time, to utilize their resources prudently. For example, Turkana County with the allocation of close to Kshs13 billion would just allocate Kshs2 billion per year just to do dams, it would be the highest productive county in the country. I agree with my colleagues who say these marginalised counties are the next frontiers of development because they are well endowed with natural resources. 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."
}