HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 477394,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/477394/?format=api",
"text_counter": 326,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kajwang",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 164,
"legal_name": "Gerald Otieno Kajwang",
"slug": "otieno-kajwang"
},
"content": "So, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the debate continues. Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I want to say that I note this Bill that we are seeking to pass; and I note it with a very heavy heart, like my brother, Sen. Kiraitu. Look at the functions of the devolved Government in Chapter 11. I am looking at objects of devolution under Article 174(g). Our job is to ensure equitable sharing of the national and local resources throughout Kenya. That should be our mandate because our mandate should be to protect the interest of the counties. But before I say many bad things that I want to say about the CRA, let me say that, at least, they gave us some figures which we suppose were done after some research, and after which, they came to certain informed decisions. But even when those figures came here and they were taken to the Lower House, the argument that cut it to Kshs226 billion was not based on any research. It was based on certain attitudes of who is the big brother; is it the National Assembly or is it the Senate? So, certain figures were brought here as a faitaccompli . In fact, I remember the Speaker giving a very emotional speech on that day from the Chair saying that: “Please, accept this one because if we do not accept it, we may never get anything better.” I also remember the Senate Majority Leader on that day saying that: “Next time, we will fight. But this time, please, accept this one.” What we were being forced to accept – because I was forced to – was the decision of the Lower House. I think some of us did not take it very kindly because we thought that our job is very distinct; ours is to protect the interest of the counties, especially on division and later on, allocation of revenue. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have heard some Members of the National Assembly when arguing against our proposed referendum questions, saying that “it is the Parliamentary Committee that is headed by the Opposition that is delaying with the reports of the Auditor-General because we are working with figures that are antique instead of working with the current figures on the revenue as it is now.” They say so with a tongue in cheek because they say that we are between a rock and a hard place. But that is not even true because even if we worked with those antique figures, we would still have gotten better figures than Kshs226 billion. However, even when we went down and said “Okay, we will accept your Kshs226 billion; but, please, the referral hospitals, about 11 of them in the country, need a little more money.” Last year, they spent Kshs3.7 billion. Therefore, this year, we cannot give them nothing. Instead of working with the figures that were suggested by the CRA, they still came back and told us “we can only give you Kshs1.8 billion.” This is a lot of arrogance because certain people think that this House has no role. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for that reason, I want to agree with Sen. Murungi that this House must do something about itself. Unless you do something about yourself, I am not coming back here because I do not like just sitting here and enjoying 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."
}