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    "id": 385097,
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    "content": "administration and so on; all the work and functions of the Government are going to be done at the county level. We must bear that in mind. Therefore, to me, the proper allocation between the national Government and the county governments should be in the ratio of 45:55, because all these functions are going to be done at the county level. Unless we give these counties enough money, the blame will go to the county governments that they have not made roads; they have not constructed health facilities, they have not done this or that. The blame goes to them, and when it goes to them, they will not look at the governors; they will look at the Senators; did we fight for the rights of the county governments? Did we ensure that they had enough allocations given to them to perform their functions properly under the Constitution? Therefore, it will be us who will be blamed. Therefore, it is our duty to interrogate this Division of Revenue Bill thoroughly and to ensure that the county governments are properly given the money that they have. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when I read Section 15 of the Sixth Schedule, it does appear to me--- Section 15 is the one which provides for devolution of functions to be made by an Act of Parliament. This devolution of functions was supposed to have taken place over a period of three years, and before a particular function is devolved over the three year period, a criteria had to be established which had to be met before the functions are devolved to the counties. Secondly, the national Government was to assist the county governments in building their capacities to govern effectively. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, what has happened, according to this budget, the way I see it, is that all the functions have – immediately from day one, before we even find out whether or not the county governments have the capacity to perform those functions – been transferred to county governments. I do not begrudge that, but because they have put the cart before the horse, then it behooves us to ensure that the county governments are given enough money to do that. What should have happened is that, may be, this year, the costing of so many county functions should have been done; these functions would then have been transferred to the county governments and money given. The following year, some more functions are given and during the third year, all the functions are given. But now, county governments have all the functions which they are entitled to have ultimately in the Fourth Schedule. Therefore, there is the need for us to ensure that they have enough money. From what we are hearing, even those officers who were transferred to the county governments are officers who have not performed well or who are facing some disciplinary action one way or the other. Are those the type of officers that we are going to start off with? Will they be able to deliver the services that are required to be delivered by the county governments? It therefore means that the county governments must almost immediately try to identify the right officers who are going to give the services to the people there. If the county governments do not have the capacity and the finances to be able to recruit appropriate staff, will they succeed? That is why I am really in favour of the proposal that we amend this Division of Revenue Bill by following the figures of Kshs184.7 billion – cost of devolved functions – but now specifically addressing the recruitment of staff and the remuneration of county executives and assemblies, which should not be part of the Kshs190 billion. Because when they are made part of the Kshs190 billion being allocated, it will affect the service to the counties. That should be 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."
}