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{
    "id": 468109,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/468109/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 309,
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    "content": "governments in every sense of the word, be allowed to use the money the way they would like. This conditional allocation is now being used to enhance disparities between counties, at a time when we want to narrow down these disparities and address the various complaints which we have heard before about areas being marginalized. I think that these conditional allocations are going to broaden these disparities. Madam Temporary Speaker, looking at this schedule again, I want to make an observation. Take the 12 largest counties - I am talking about Nairobi, Nakuru, Kiambu, Kakamega, Mombasa, Turkana, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, Bungoma, Kisii and Mandera – where close to half the population of this country live. All the 12 counties are being allocated a total of Kshs75 billion, but look at what we have allocated the national Government. One Ministry alone, the Ministry for Interior and Coordination of National Government and the National Intelligence Service are receiving more than what we are allocating to the 12 largest counties of this country. Even the Ministry of Devolution and Planning is receiving more money than 12 counties of this country, where half of the population lives. This raises questions about our priorities and what we want to do really as a country. When it comes to the money collected from taxes and how we target this money to help this nation, have we got it right? I think that in future, we should even interrogate the budget of the national Government, to see if it reflects correctly our priorities and the manner in which we want to spend our money. Madam Temporary Speaker, I am a very strong supporter of devolution. I believe that through devolution, we will be able to address the very many challenges facing Kenyans wherever they live in this country. I also believe that through the county governments, if given a chance and managed properly, we will be able to transform and, in fact, improve the quality of lives of our people. I appeal for more funds to be made available to the counties if we are going to achieve these objectives. Madam Temporary Speaker, I know that this is the first time that we are going through this process. I also know that the counties need to be supported to start their operations. That is the only reason I would very reluctantly support this Bill. Otherwise, I think that we have not gotten it right. Let us hope that next time there will be improvements in this Budget process, to ensure that our priorities are reflected properly and more money is availed to the counties. I appeal also to the counties to use the little money that they have been given properly and effectively; to maximize on it and make sure that they also come out with their own plans to raise more funds from other sources. Madam Temporary Speaker, I support."
}