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{
    "id": 437102,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/437102/?format=api",
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    "content": "because the expectations were that it would help promote social and economic development, bring services closer to the people and improve service delivery. This will also help reduce poverty and more importantly, help us to promote equality among the various regions of this country and reduce marginalization in the process. These are very good expectations and objectives. In my opinion, for those to be achieved, we have an obligation to see that the devolved units are given more funds. This is one reason why I will support the recommendation by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) of Kshs279.1 billion. As Sen. (Eng.) Muriuki said, last year, we were fighting for Kshs258 billion. What would be the justification in accepting a lower figure? This is what I feel. The whole issue has not been properly handled. I want to make very brief comments about Level 5 hospitals and the way they operate. My County, Kisii, is one of those with a Level 5 hospital. This is a shared facility. Patients come from other counties. They come from Nyamira, Migori, Homa Bay and parts of Narok and in particular, Kilgoris Sub County. I know that other hospitals like the one in Kisumu have shared facilities. This also includes the one in Nyeri. It would, therefore, be grossly wrong to leave the burden of management of these institutions to one county. It is not sustainable and it is not possible for one county to finance the activities of level five hospitals. You will recall that last year, we received Conditional Grants that went to these hospitals. I am very grateful for the proposal I got this afternoon that an amendment should be brought aimed at making provision for financing these hospitals through the national Government. When you are looking at the division of revenue, you cannot avoid looking at how both the national Government and the county governments intend to spend the money being given to them. If you look at page 10 of this Bill, you will also notice that at the national level, the Defence and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) have been given Kshs79.46 billion. That amount is between 8 per cent and 10 per cent of the amount available for division between the two levels of Government. The amount is also equivalent to 35 per cent of the revenue to be distributed to all of our 47 counties. This amount of money is also equal to the amount proposed to be distributed between the first 20 counties based on where the county falls alphabetically. In other words, 20 counties where 16.5 per cent of the Kenyan population lives will get the same amount as the Defence and NIS. Twenty of our counties are where 16.5 million Kenyans live. These are Kenyans who expect to have roads, water and medical services among other things. I want to express the hope that in future, while it is important to focus on security considerations and the need to channel resources to deal with the challenges facing us, it is equally important for us to consider the welfare of our people and the well-being of citizens in various counties. Therefore, we must allocate more funds for the welfare and wellbeing of our citizens. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support the way rural electrification programme has been handled in this Bill except to say that the new connection charges imposed by the Ministry of Energy recently, which were increased from Kshs34,000 to Kshs75,000 are prohibitive. Even when we take power to the people in the rural areas, they will not be able to take advantage of it because they will not afford it. They will, therefore, 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."
}