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{
    "id": 468057,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/468057/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 257,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "we end up with our counties being given functions but funds are hidden somewhere. So, we need to get that development component. Madam Temporary Speaker, my other issue with this Bill is the Equalisation Fund. We are told it is Kshs4.3 billion. For now that is what the law says because it is stated as 0.5 per cent but I am surprised that what is supposed to be equalization to heal the economic disparities among the counties is almost the same amount to what is going to political parties. The political parties fund is 0.3 per cent and the equalization fund to cure the economic disparities for the last 50 years is 0.5 per cent. This shows how serious we are taking the disparity. We are not serious about it and it has to be changed. This has to be something that can cure disparities like something close to 10 per cent. When it comes to the matrix, the way it is presented, I do not know what the Mover of this Bill was trying to achieve when he came up with two columns; Column A and Column B. 15 per cent of the audited revenue is the minimum, then there is an additional and conditional allocation based on the formula. While we know we only have one equitable shared amount and the other amount comes from the Government whether conditional or unconditional, here we are having two columns which we do not understand. Why does somebody have to show us that we already have 15 per cent and there is an extra that we are being given. That should not have been there. I think we should have had two columns, one for the equitable share, which is in the Constitution, then the second one should be what we are getting from the national Government as either conditional or unconditional grants. This should not be county money because according to my understanding, what actually goes to the county is Kshs154 billion and the Kshs43 billion is targeting particular activities like the referral hospitals or ongoing donor-funded projects, which are also not throughout the country. Just to make sure that the column is not blank, you will find somebody getting Kshs100 million and others getting Kshs3 billion. So, it is better that such an issue comes out clearly so that we know what is actually due to us and which will apply across the country. Otherwise, it can also create disparities within the country when others are getting conditional funds and others are not getting and then we shall be told that it is what the Government said. Madam Temporary Speaker, the other issue is about the usage of the funds, as others have cautioned. What is coming out clearly is that all the national Government staff or all the civil servants based at the county, other than the teachers and police officers, are supposed to be paid from this money. That is what the governors are telling us. That will basically mean that all the functions have been devolved. In my case, I am told that Kshs2 billion of the Kshs3 billion we are getting will go into recurrent expenditure. That is what the Government has been paying the civil servants. It is just a matter of transferring all the emoluments to the county governments. The national Government has been crying over the wage bill. We have been told that the wage bill is about Kshs458 billion. More than half of that staff is going to the counties; but you are talking of Kshs200 billion in terms of wages and yet what we are given is Kshs198 billion. So, will you be able to pay the wages? We also have to check if there is a way the national Government can remain with payment of personal emoluments so that what goes to the county will just be recurrent in terms of running offices, facilitating staff to deliver services. We are told that the first thing that the Government is 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."
}