Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 469080,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/469080/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 111,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Anyang’-Nyong’o",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 193,
        "legal_name": "Peter Anyang' Nyong'o",
        "slug": "peter-nyongo"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this Motion and to contribute to this discussion on the Division of Revenue Bill, 2013. First I must say that I am very happy that Jubilee has fully been converted to devolution and has new prophets of devolution. The epistles are quite convincing. Secondly, I want to say that this Division of Revenue Bill, we will definitely see its effect much more appropriately when the Appropriation Bill hits us. When the Appropriation Bill comes we will see how these figures are translated into shillings and cents with respect to specific expenditures both at the national and at the county levels. Having said that, I want to congratulate the Chairman of the Finance, Commerce and Economic Affairs Committee and the Chairman the Committee on Devolved Governments for the contributions they have made and the intentions they have given to the House. Now that they have discussed this matter with the Treasury and other bodies like the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) among others, we are convinced that an amendment to the Bill will be important. The details of the figures will come before the House. This is what Sen. Kipchumba talked about. We neither need say nor commend ourselves for being generous in any way. The Constitution says; very specifically, how public resources should be used. I can refer you to Article 187 of the Constitution as well as Article 203 before I come to the Fourth Schedule. Those two articles tell us very specifically that the Treasury has no option, but to make a budget in line with the provisions of the Constitution. Indeed, if the Treasury turned to do anything outside what is laid down in this Constitution, then we, as a Senate would take the Treasury to account. I was surprised that even in the making of the Constitution, we talked about percentages. This was not really necessary because these provisions to the Constitution give us direction as to how the gross figures of the revenues that are earned by the Kenyan nation will be used between the national government and the county governments. The Constitution provides for this. It is only when that is applied that the Treasury can make a proposal that in a particular year because we are starved, we will reduce expenditures or allocations this way or that way. However, as long as revenues are there to be budgeted for, the Constitution must be followed. Having said that, it is the obligation and, indeed, the duty of the Secretary to the Treasury and other relevant bodies to budget as provided for in the Constitution. 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."
}