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{
    "id": 474059,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/474059/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 274,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "we cause more problems to the families concerned. A thorough job should be done on this and very urgently. There has been a difference of opinion in the counties in terms of how much we should spend on county assemblies and how much should go to the Executive. This is a matter that the two arms of government at the county will continue to disagree about. There may come a time when this Senate will address itself and resolve the problem once and for all by setting levels. Right now, the Controller of Budget is trying to do something. The Commission on Revenue Allocation is also trying to do something. We should get something that is legal and which cannot be challenged in any court of law that will guide us even if it means calling MCAs and the county executive. We should put them in a forum so that there is consensus. I believe that consensus can be arrived at if this Senate plays its part. There is also the issue of funding to counties. If we set the level at 40 per cent, that will not be the end. Counties can still get up to 60 per cent later. This can be done because what we gave to counties this year was very little. We based it on revenues raised in the 2009/2010 Financial Year. If we are dealing with the audited accounts of last year, they would have got more and the 40 per cent would still have been a lot of money. As we look at setting standards, we should also look at the Constitution or the law to ensure that these accounts are audited and approved on time. Penalties should be imposed against those who do not approve them in time. There is also a tendency for the national Government to borrow. It has been borrowing. However, there is a tendency that whatever is given as aid must be given to the national Government. I think we should relook at all our funding agreements so that even if something is donor funded, the funds can also be managed at the county level and to county projects. I say this because the functions that have been devolved such as agriculture, health and provision of water heavily rely on donor funding. If those funds are not trickling down to the counties, then agriculture is going to suffer. What is going to happen is that the national Government will cling to those funds and start mega projects in the pretext that counties are not able to manage those funds. This will defeat the purpose for which we devolved. Madam Temporary Speaker, I recall when we had the District Focus for Rural Development where projects had to emanate from the districts; the people had to decide and they were allocated the money. Since the Permanent Secretaries had no access to that money, they made sure that no money went to those projects. They started other mega projects, most of which ended up being white elephant projects. Major procurement took place, which ensured that nothing trickled to the ground. Devolution has come to save the majority of the people. It is supposed to provide services to the people. The Senator for Nyeri has talked about the youth; that they are not going to benefit from the contracts if a deliberate action is not taken to ensure that there are enough funds for development in the counties because it is only in the counties that they can be taken care of. 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."
}