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{
    "id": 469112,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/469112/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 143,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Nobwola",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13116,
        "legal_name": "Catherine Mukiite Nabwala",
        "slug": "catherine-mukiite-nabwala"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to thank you that I have been able to catch your eye. I rise to support the Bill. Devolution is a new thing in our country and it is a test for the Jubilee Government, whether they are committed to it or not. The Bill which is before us is a major step by the Government in an effort to fund the county governments so that they can be functional. I will comment on the figures in the Bill. When you look at the Budget, you will realize that the figures are based on historical figures for 2011/2012. When we plan, we would like to know where we are coming from and these figures should have been made available to the Senators so that they can make good decisions. In the absence of these figures, we do not know where we are coming from or where we are going. The way I see it is that most counties will not be able to raise the 85 per cent. Why do I say so? It is because in the first place, Treasury is willing to give Kshs210 billion to fund the counties. This money is not sufficient. We have been given information in the Committee on Finance, Commerce and Economic Affairs that there will be some counties which will not be able to get the allocation. This means we are going to end up with a deficit. In our Constitution, it is very clear that it is the responsibility of the national government to make sure that counties are funded properly so that they can carry out the functions which they are meant to do. No county should be left to suffer because of policies or decisions made by the national government. In the papers which we were given today, there are counties being referred to as harmless. What the Committee decided this afternoon is that this amount being referred to as harmless or deficits in the Budget by certain counties should be taken over by the national government. So, part one and two of the Constitution talks about the functions of the national Government and the county government. When you look at the functions of the national Government, they have not let go some of their functions in view of the devolution. If you look at universities, for instance, the other day we sat here as Senators and passed a Motion to 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."
}