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{
    "id": 469161,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/469161/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 192,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I stand to support this Motion, which is an important Motion which will ensure that devolution takes effect. The amount of money that will be allocated to the counties is really what will determine whether devolution will succeed or not. Looking at the functions that have been devolved, I see that it is quite substantive in accordance with the Constitution, and this is quite in order. Madam Temporary Speaker, it has been mentioned here, that the Government’s wish is to gradually increase the allocation up to 40 per cent of the revenue, but you cannot do that if you have already devolved the functions up to 100 per cent. Actually, the increase should automatically be to 40 per cent in order to match with the functions which have been devolved. You cannot talk of gradually increasing the allocation while you have devolved all the functions. Madam Temporary Speaker, when you look at the functions that have been devolved, these are the ones which have a lot of impact on the productive capacity of this country. We are talking about agriculture, fisheries; we are also talking about the areas that are of major concern in terms of welfare, health and so forth. So, these are really important and as we devolve funds to the counties, it should not be seen as a measure of generosity – that the national Government is doing the counties a favour – it is a right; it is in the Constitution and it is going to very important areas of concern and of production. If we invest in counties, we are sure we are investing the proper way because that is where even the national revenue is being raised. It is in the counties where we collect taxes; it is in the counties that the level of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be determined, not at the headquarters. Madam Temporary Speaker, when we look at how revenue has been proposed to be divided, we really do not have a basis on which we can judge the functions. The functions have not been costed and itemized properly and it is likely that a lot of money has remained in the Ministries; monies that were supposed to be devolved. It would appear that the Ministries have been given discretion to devolve whatever funds they want to devolve and retain others. If you look at agriculture, for instance, the funds that are likely to be available to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in all counties are much less than what still is being retained in the Ministry headquarters at the national level. Why is that so, when all functions of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries have been devolved? If you look at the Ministry concerned with devolved governments, you will still find that it is holding some funds to the level of Kshs68 billion while the counties do not have anything. A function like Children Services and child care is a function that is being devolved, but I have seen some estimates where you still find Children Services being given Kshs7 billion at the national level in the Ministry of Devolution and Planning, which is concerned with county governments. Surely, this is money that should already have been devolved. Madam Temporary Speaker, there is also the issue of borrowing, and this is an area that really needs to be looked at critically. Governments borrow for certain functions or reasons; sometimes it is the issue of cash flow – you do not have the money immediately to pay salaries – so, you get Treasury Bills, float them and you get the 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."
}