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{
    "id": 482454,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/482454/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 254,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Njenga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1510,
        "legal_name": "Francis Kigo Njenga",
        "slug": "francis-kigo-njenga"
    },
    "content": "My other feeling is that governors in this country are capable of collecting and assisting us in increasing our tax base. Our tax base can increase. We can raise revenue. I always remember that some ten years ago, we only raised about Kshs215 billion. By last year, we were past a trillion shillings. So, it means that the potential for Kenya to collect taxes from Kenyans is big. I look at our counties and think we can still exploit the resources which are there. We still can let governors work. They need to have their money increased but they have not addressed the issue that we should know where that money is coming from. They should also participate in raising the tax base of this country. This money should also be collected and accountability and transparency requires to be enhanced. Some of our counties are big economies and they are able to collect money. The money which should be held under Appropriations-In-Aid should also be accounted for so that we can have adequate money to even give to whoever we want, without much stress. That is why I am saying that if a county collects money, we venture in future in ways and means of having these counties account for the money. If that is going to be the case therefore, we will be able to raise the amount of money that we need. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to comment here and say that some of the things that we do are not good. The Controller of Budget is withholding funds for some counties just because governors have refused to account for them. That means unaccountability is there and, therefore, governors should be asked to account for whatever resources they have and not only what they get from the Central Government, but what they have collected. However, I think the people of Kiambu, Kisumu and Bomet should not be allowed to suffer because of one person. It is high time that such counties are allowed to access funds but in the meantime, governors should The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}