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{
"id": 437188,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/437188/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "May 15, 2014 SENATE DEBATES 69 Sen. Ndiema",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have been here from the beginning and I have been standing. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, our main interest is to serve the interests of the counties. That is the basic thing. I find it very hard to support this Bill the way it is, not because I do not want counties, including mine, to get a cent, but of the figures that have been proposed. Last year, around this time, I was a very proud Senator representing the people of Trans Nzoia. We researched and arrived at a definite figure of Kshs258 billion that we thought was the minimum amount that would make devolution work in our counties. We even went to the extent of going to the courts and we were proven right. My concern is what I will tell the people of Trans Nzoia. They knew that the figure was Kshs258 billion. Now, a year down the line, how do I tell them that we have come down to Kshs226 billion? That is very difficult because responsibilities for the counties have increased. They are not the same as they were last year. Salary increments for the Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) have been affected and there are new structures there. You will recall that last year, counties had not started recruiting. However, they have now recruited and they continue to recruit in setting up their structures. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, additional functions have been taken up by the counties. I want to thank the national Government for readily releasing functions to the counties much faster than it had been anticipated. Unfortunately, funds to support these new structures are also being reduced. I am saying they have reduced because what has been allocated to counties this year is less than what they got last year. Why do I say so? On page 8 of the memorandum, it is alleged - which is quite misleading - that the allocation of Kshs226 billion reflects a growth of 19.3 per cent of the Kshs190 billion allocated to counties in 2013/2014. We all know that last year, the counties did not get Kshs190 billion, but Kshs210 billion. It was Kshs210 billion because the Kshs226, includes funds, for referral hospitals or Level 5 Hospitals. Therefore, in effect, the 19 per cent increment is not there. We should not make counties think that they will be getting more. There has not been any meaningful growth. Last year, it was at Kshs190 billion. This year, if it is approved at Kshs226 billion, as suggested, in real terms, the difference will be 16 billion. This is Kshs16 billion to be shared among 47 counties. My county, Trans Nzoia is neither marginalised, but neither is it populous. I may not get the share that others will get. If you divide the Kshs16 billion to counties and convert it to percentages, you will see that counties are getting nothing. They will not even afford to pay the annual increment for the staff that is already there. This afternoon, we have had arguments. As a matter of goodwill, these matters had been conversed elsewhere and agreed. Therefore, we should not appear to be of convergent views. Our major responsibility as a Senate is to allocate money to counties."
}