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{
    "id": 469070,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/469070/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 101,
    "type": "other",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "find ourselves in a very awkward situation if you have a county that has a budget of Kshs15 billion and you only allocated it Kshs5 billion.The counties will borrow; but even if they do not borrow, they will be unable to deliver their services. When they are unable to do so, we will say that they have failed and, therefore, will now be managed by the national Government. So, it is important to ensure that the resources that come from loans and grants are distributed across the country so that there is fairness and so that you have a project in Samburu County equivalent to a project being done, perhaps, in Nakuru County or any other county where loans have been allocated from foreign resources. It is unfortunate if Turkana County, for example, is to repay a loan that has only been used in Nairobi County. It will be important that that distribution is fair. That is what we have requested the Treasury to give us clear information on. Even going forward, we want to know the resources that are being administered by the national Government at the county and how they are being distributed across the country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have a problem with capacity in the counties. Our counties have serious capacity problems when it comes to budgeting. The Treasury is expected to assist them in the process of building capacity. The counties are budgeting for functions that are not even allocated to them in Schedule Four. Without mentioning counties, we would find that the first priority of some counties is to build a Kshs1 billion airport. Some counties have allocated resources in building secondary and primary schools while we know that the resources given to them were not meant for that because education is a national function, except the ECD. There is a particular county that has put aside Kshs200 million to build secondary schools. Others have put Kshs50 million into health sector. So, these are serious capacity problems. You have projects that are planned by the Governor to take about five years, but the county executive has locked those resources for only one year. So, it means that instead of benefiting or pro-rating the budget over four or five years, they lock their money for the whole year. They say: “This year, we will build the airport and next year we will see how much we will allocate to health sector and other services.” So, I think these capacity problems are going to impede devolution. That is why in our two committees we agreed to have amendments which will ensure that the Senate will have the opportunity to look at all the budgets across the country. This will ensure that this House plays its important role. Lastly, although I support the Government for allocating such necessary resources to the counties, I still think Kshs210 billion is little. That is where I disagree with the Senate Majority Leader. I believe that this House, being the guardian angel of devolution, must follow the recommendation of CRA and increase the allocation to the counties to Kshs238 billion. There is even a more ambitious proposal which was done by the Senator of Nyeri County. I am sure at the opportune time, he will say it. He is proposing about Kshs278 billion. We will have done two things if we do so. We will have played our role in protecting devolution. We will have ensured that the resources go where social economic functions are being performed under Article 43 of the Constitution. That will be the first priority. The sum of Kshs210 billion is just a mere proposal by the Lower House. At this stage, it is important for this House to pronounce itself on the actual and necessary 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."
}