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{
    "id": 469157,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/469157/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 188,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ong’era",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13117,
        "legal_name": "Janet Ongera",
        "slug": "janet-ongera"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity so that I can also make my contribution on the Motion before the House. I rise to support this Motion. As I support it, first of all, I would like to thank the Jubilee Government for implementing CORD’s very big vision of ensuring that devolution becomes a reality. I say this with a lot of passion because devolution has been a baby that has been supported by many people in this country who wanted to see a reality of taking facilities to where they belong; that is to our people at the grassroots. As I look at this Budget in terms of the division of revenue, the amount that has been given is not sufficient. I want to join my colleagues who said that this amount should actually be raised. I have heard that there is a proposal to raise it to 40 per cent in the next five years. The real funds are not needed at the Central Government but where they belong; the grassroots. I feel that the Division of Revenue Bill as was presented by the Commission should have been accepted and we raise that figure rather than bringing it down. Madam Temporary Speaker, as you are aware, in terms of infrastructure in the counties, it is really in a deplorable state. Many of our counties do not have the requisite infrastructure. There are no roads and other facilities including even the seconded civil servants who have been taken there to take office. Because of this, there is a real genuine need to jumpstart these counties so that they can start offering the very services that they should have already started offering. In terms of the division of revenue, I hope that when these counties settle down and get the necessary revenue, they shall be able to establish programmes that will be able to cater for women and youth. I hope there will be a fund for women and another fund for the youth. That can be able to take care of the needs of these very important constituencies. I will be tabling a Motion here for that fund to be established in the counties. Finally, as I look at this Division of Revenue Bill, I am looking at the provision to the Police Services. It has been put under the national interest Vote. Police services are really community based services and I do not see the need to put them under the national interest Vote. Instead it should be put under county interest, because as you are aware, there is high insecurity in the country as we speak simply because there is a lot of confusion in the counties where we do not know who is in charge; whether it is the Governor or the County Commissioner. Because of this state of insecurity, we do not know which hand is doing what in terms of security. Things are just flying haywire. I, therefore, feel that, that budget for the Police Service should go to the county and not to the national interest. 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."
}