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"content": "“The equitable share of revenue for Bungoma and Busia, which had initially been allocated Kshs7.3 billion and Kshs4 billion respectively should now be corrected to read Kshs6.6 billion and Kshs4.7 billion.” Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if you go further to page 8, they again dealt with this problem very nicely and I really want to commend them for that. It was almost a unanimous decision. They say:- “Unless these figures are corrected, then Busia County this year stands to lose Kshs673,970,871 in revenues. ” Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in other words, this amount which is really supposed to service, particularly the people of north and south Teso, is now, under the current figures, being given to Busia County, who have in law unjustly enriched themselves by that amount. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the whole purpose of devolution is to ensure that there is equitable development throughout the country. You keep on telling us that. In order for there to be an equitable distribution, there must be an equitable distribution based on, amongst others, but the most important factor of population. The resolution that the national Assembly agreed on the basis of the allocation correctly took into account the fact that the population forms the major component of that. In fact, they said that the parameter and weights to be taken into account in assessing this, 45 per cent will be given to population and then the land area, 8 per cent. Of course, when you also talk about the land area, Busia also became affected because the area where Teso North and Teso South are situated was now counted as if that area belongs to Bungoma County. So, I was also affected. So, again, this is 80 per cent, which is now more than 50 per cent, which forms the basis of allocation. If these figures are approved the way they are without amendment, Busia County stands to be marginalized. It stands not to benefit from what is rightfully theirs. The whole purpose, of course, as we know on this question of the finances is to make sure that the county governments are able to perform their functions as allocated to them. Now, if one third of the population and almost one third of the area has been counted in another county, how will the county government perform the functions allocated to those people? It is really a great unfairness. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support this Bill, particularly when they go further to say on page 8 that “the Committee will propose appropriate amendments to the First Schedule of the Bill to correct anomalies in the allocation of revenues to the counties.” That is, of course, Busia County, Bungoma County, Bomet County and another county. I support those amendments totally. Just to be on the safe side, I will also be putting in similar amendments so that we make sure that this House votes on those amendments. I will be very happy if my fellow colleagues supported the amendments to the County Allocation of Revenue Bill so that Busia County gets its rightful share. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that is as far as the current financial year is concerned. But then there is that amount of Kshs566,612,679 which was given to the County of Busia in the last financial year. As you are aware, in the last financial year, the disputes we had with regard to the Division of Revenue Bill, we had to go to court and so on, and so forth. This point was not properly debated here, but it is money that rightfully 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."
}