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{
    "id": 380939,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/380939/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 255,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, it is important for us to capture the history of this Bill. This Bill could not have been what it is today, had it not been for the history that we went through in the few weeks. First of all, we know very well that this House sat here and debated the Division of Revenue Bill. We discussed the importance of financing the counties. Sen. Kagwe was on another duty outside the country when the discussion was very hot, but you can see that part of his contributions are very critical in terms of reasons why, at that time, we made certain contributions or changes to the Division of Revenue Bill. Madam Temporary Speaker, there has been a misconception in this nation that monies that are going to the counties are a mere token from the national Government. Basically, it is there to be given out at the whims and desires of one level of Government against the other. It is important for all of us to keep going back to Article 6 to remind ourselves that the county governments and national Government are distinct, although they are interdependent. They can only conduct their mutual relations on the principle of consultation and co-operation, so that there is no one level of Government that is a prefect of the other. In fact, I would like to request my colleagues, the Senators that it is important that everytime we refer to the national Government, we do not do it as though the counties are walking to the national Government with a begging bowl. It is important for me to read Article 203 (2) of the Constitution. It says:- “For every financial year, the equitable share of the revenue raised nationally that is allocated to county governments shall be not less than fifteen per cent of all revenue collected by the national government.” Madam Temporary Speaker, there has been a particular debate that is demeaning that county governments are just begging for the money coming from the national Government. It is not from the national Government. Article 203 (2) is very clear that it is revenue raised nationally. That is taxes collected from Kiambu, Nyeri and Elgeyo- Marakwet counties through a national process, which includes the contribution of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). In fact, I remember that we were discussing this issue of finances. This debate should still go on; whether the KRA should basically become an entity as it is, or we should reform and give it a clear structure that will demonstrate that it is an inter-governmental body which is responsible for protecting both the counties and the national Government. This is important so that many do not just think that the money that is given every year using the County Allocation of Revenue Bill and the Division of Revenue Bill, are mere resources being given to counties as a token. We must always appreciate that it is the money that we have all collected. We are asking ourselves; in furtherance of development of our country, how much money should we give to counties to run the projects based on their functions? How much money should we give to the national Government to run their functions? We must look at the two levels of Government as partners. It must not be counties against the national Government, but counties working together with the national Government. That relationship must be fostered if we are to work in a good relationship as Parliament, that The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}