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{
    "id": 429111,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/429111/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 330,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Aden",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, hon. Speaker. I stand to support this very crucial Bill, as a Member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. This particular Bill has given an increase of 19 per cent from what was allocated last year. I must say that this is a step in the right direction. Some of the members of the Council of Governors are seeking more money. I want to urge them that indeed, we are getting there. While the allocation to the national Government has reduced, indeed, the allocation to the county governments has increased and this is showing that this House is ready to support devolution and with time, this House will be giving more and more to the county governments as long as services are being delivered. Hon. Speaker, the point I want to say here today is that the challenge is on the county governments to prudently utilize the funds that have been allocated to them. A sum of Kshs226 billion is a lot of money that can make a huge difference in our country and in our counties. This requires prudent and fair utilization in that manner to ensure that all the respective constituencies and wards in each county get their fair share of that devolved money. Hon. Speaker, our county assemblies have got challenges even greater than those of last year, to now ensure that they offer effective oversight over the Kshs226 billion. Failure of effective oversight can lead to very bad consequences which, in this case, will be the unfortunate misuse of the funds allocated to devolved counties. Hon. Speaker, the county assemblies need to start to draw smart budgets for each of their counties. I believe, knowing that there are a number of trainings that I am aware of--- At least, Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) have gone through some training in terms of how to prepare budgets. We expect them to draw very good budgets unlike last year, which was marred by a lot of confusion in different counties and some were not able to do their budgets within the required time as stipulated in the law. So, county assemblies must do that and ensure that, upon the approval of those budgets, they need strict oversight to ensure strict adherence to the approved budgets by the county governments. We have seen and read of county governments that are not using the approved budgets. Indeed, they have gone ahead and used other amounts in total disregard of the budgets that were approved by the county assemblies. That is contrary to the law. The county governments should adhere to the approved budgets and it is the responsibility of the county assemblies, which I believe have now got the right footing in terms of experience, to ensure that they offer that particular guidance. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}