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{
    "id": 184450,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/184450/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 189,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Kones",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 53,
        "legal_name": "Julius Kipyegon Kones",
        "slug": "julius-kones"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, revenue generation is another area which I think the Ministry needs to look at seriously. When I look at this budget, most of it goes to traditional investment in roads. I think we need to look at other income generation projects that can help sustain these councils. I am looking at investing in tourism attraction projects. I hope that in the coming years, the Ministry will guide the councils on key investment opportunities that exist in their councils. I also want to emphasize that the Ministry needs to allocate more funds for employment of Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers. Indeed, if it is true that all ECD teachers should be under the Ministry, then there has be adequate allocation for their employment. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, a question has been raised here as to the boundary between the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development. This is one area that we need to look at seriously, so that we can avoid double allocation of resources in small areas like Nairobi. I believe that there are other local authorities that deserve funding. We expect a circular to distinguish between the roles of the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development and the Ministry of Local Government. We know what the 2700 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 14, 2008 Ministry of Local Government normally does, but it is not yet very clear what the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development does that is not done by the Ministry of Local Government. So, our worry is that, probably, we are doing double allocation to Nairobi City Council. If that is the case, then Nairobi is getting the highest percentage of the allocations. Perhaps, we should trim the budget for Nairobi and redistribute it to other local authorities. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, regarding the road maintenance levy, I think I need some guidance on how it is used. First of all, I want to know why only four provinces got the funding. Out of the four, a total of Kshs172 million went to Central Province, and Kshs115 million went to Western Province. Coast Province got Kshs80 million and Rift Valley Kshs70 million. The rest got nothing. The Kshs172 million that went to Central Province represents 36 per cent and Western got about 32 per cent of the road maintenance levy. So, for the two provinces the percentage is about 70 per cent. So, I wonder what criteria are used in allocating the road maintenance levy. If it is really about roads, then there are other areas that require the funds. There are areas which have worse roads than Central Province. I want to request a clear explanation as to what criteria were used. If the criteria are not very clear, then I suggest that we redistribute this levy to all the provinces using the poverty index as a basis for the redistribution. Finally, I would like to talk about the hiring of what we call \"public officers\". I am aware that there are people who are appointed after every five years. I have never understood their role. Who pays them? Is it the local authority or the Ministry? Most of the councils that I have visited have always complained. They do not know what those people do in their councils. Are they special advisers to the Minister, or to political parties? In my view, this is an unnecessary burden in terms of expenditure. Since they are called \"public officers\" why can they not be full-time officers of the Ministry? If they are there on temporary terms, then it is better that we know what they do. Are they spies, and if so, who do they work for? I think we need to know some of these things. With those few remarks, I beg to support the Vote of the Ministry."
}