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{
    "id": 364086,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/364086/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 273,
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    "content": "Bill after amendments back to the Senate and say that we do not agree with the amendments from the Senate, the only route is that of the mediation route. In case the mediation route fails, the consequence is the loss of a money Bill. Once a money Bill is lost, then Government functions do not exist. There will be no Government. That is why we want to urge you to support this. The extra Kshs48 billion that the Senate has increased over the Kshs190 billion that this House gave to the county governments brought the total Kshs238 billion. If we go by that, the Budget-making process, the fiscal framework of any country’s Budget, is like this building. This building is held by very strong pillars and the moment you touch one pillar, the whole framework of this building will not be in place. Even the Budget-making process that the national Treasury has prepared is anchored and based on very strong fiscal pillars or framework. The moment you shift Kshs48 billion, that means that that extra money must be sourced. That brings into place more taxation and more domestic borrowing. Somebody somewhere must say: How do we fund the extra Kshs48 billion? That is why I am saying that the decision effectively will affect the whole framework. Devolution is not a choice. It is in the Constitution. It is not a choice for this Government and it will not be a choice for the next Governments. It is not a choice for the Senate neither is it a choice for the National Assembly. Nobody in this country can run away and say “I am the protector of devolution”. It is incumbent upon all of us, the Senators, governors, the National Assembly, the national Government and the people whom we represent, to nurture, like a small child, the devolved system of government. When we gave the county governments Kshs210 billion, this was above the 15 per cent minimum provided by the Constitution. It was about 32.7 per cent. This should have been encouraged, so that in every subsequent Budget-making process, the county governments can use this 32 per cent to put their infrastructure and the pillars of their framework in place. They should also make sure that the infrastructure that is needed for an effective and efficient county government is in place. This is the first Budget that the county governments are getting. Just like the way we want to oversee the national Government’s Budget, in every county there are between seven to 12 constituencies and in our own wisdom, we must oversee the county assembly representatives and the county leadership. Article 96 of the Constitution, unless somebody interprets it differently, and even if this interpretation is given to the Supreme Court, the interpretation will be the same, gives specifically the role of the Senate. This is where the debate should be because the debate should be within the Constitution. The debate should not be outside the Constitution. Most of the people are debating outside the Constitution. With your indulgence, I wish to read Article 96. It says that:- “(1) The Senate represents the counties, and serves to protect the interests of the counties and their governments”. Hon. Speaker, Sir, Article 95 says that the National Assembly represents the people of the constituencies and special interests in the National Assembly. It is this House that represents the people. It is in the Constitution that the National Assembly represents the people in the 290 constituencies while the Senate represents the counties or entities. For example, the Senate of Garissa County represents the boundary of Garissa County. He represents the government of Garissa County. The mandate of the Senate, in"
}