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"content": "through legislation, county governments are properly supported to function. So, that is a very big question mark there; we do not know what functions have been transferred. Madam Temporary Speaker, I recollect that when we met the Secretary to the Treasury, he actually told us that they are operating on the basis that all functions had been transferred. But looking at the figures at that time, it was quite clear that the figure that we are now trying to allocate can barely meet the recurrent expenditures of the county governments. In fact, for a number of those counties – and I believe there are over 21 such counties– the figure was not even enough to meet the recurrent expenditures of those counties. Madam Temporary Speaker, we are talking about the principles of a devolved government. A devolved government is not just there to provide jobs to people to work in whatever capacity; it is not just an employment bureau to provide jobs. The principles of the devolved government are to ensure that people and the communities in the counties self-govern themselves and can manage their own development. In fact, it is our belief that with the proper functioning of the counties, this country will develop faster economically and socially. Therefore, we are looking for money from the national Government to the counties which can now go to development expenditure. Consequently, to the extent that the figures here cannot even meet the recurrent expenditure of most counties, there is no item here which will go towards development. Now, are we, by enacting this, really supporting the county governments in their functions? That is the big question that must be asked. As I said earlier, Kshs3.5 billion in Busia County can barely meet anything. It can only meet the recurrent expenditure, and we have tried to push a few things here and there. Madam Temporary Speaker, I say that we are cornered between a rock and a hard place because we have to enact this. I have noticed that the Senate Majority Leader, when he signed the memo and objects of this Bill, he actually mentioned very many shortcomings as far as this Bill is concerned. And yet we, as a Senate, must somehow, in spite of those shortcomings, enact and pass this Bill. That is why I want to emphasize again that we are doing it, but we anticipate that we shall be successful in the court case. If we are successful, we shall find a way of allocating more money to the county governments so that, at least, they can dedicate a portion of their budget to development expenditure. Madam Temporary Speaker, it might very well be that due to time constraints and so on, we have to do this. But I think that when we start thinking about the next financial year, we should not make the same mistake – not the Senate – but the Government should not make the same mistake, or the constitutional organs should not make the same mistake. We should now do a proper budgeting and costing, knowing that this can be recurrent so as to give the county governments enough funds also for development expenditure. Madam Temporary Speaker, before I sit down, although we recognize that the amount going to the county governments is barely enough, I think it is incumbent upon us – as the institution mandated to look after the interests of counties, as the House mandated to protect the interests of counties and their governments but, more importantly, as the institution which has an oversight role over whatever money goes 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."
}