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{
    "id": 484979,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/484979/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 486,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Huka",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2240,
        "legal_name": "Mohamed Adan Huka",
        "slug": "mohamed-adan-huka"
    },
    "content": "There are a lot of attempts to talk about referendum, I understand from my old party. Theirs is just for political reason. I think it will not achieve anything but just to keep this side of Government on its toes. But I would understand this issue of governors going for referendum to raise their allocation to 45 percent. I do not know but from simple mathematics, they forget that we are also running the National Government which runs our education system, our infrastructure, free education and employment of teachers, developing our infrastructure, the ports, railway and everything. They do not think that by sending everything down to the level of the counties, they forget that there is a National Government which is supposed to provide a platform for this country to develop. We can increase the cost of production; the cost of doing business in Kenya if we are not careful. We have a lot of commitment under the CFS reconciliatory fund services and the national public debt is very high on our agenda. If today all those monies went to the counties, I can assure you that there will be no money available. I, being one of the people who come from marginalized areas--- I think in the beginning, we have enough to actually start devolution. Let our county governments account for the money that they have. Let them account for that. Let us try also to bake a bigger cake so that this country can have more resources to divide among the various levels of Government. Let us not also believe that devolution only belongs to one group of Kenyans. Devolution is for Kenyans. Kenyans went for a Referendum in 2010 and selected a Constitution which introduced devolution which has two level of governments - counties and the National Government. Kenyans are for that. I think us, as leaders and, particularly, those who are confusing our public, trying to get signatures and talking many things--- I know when we passed the Constitution in 2010, there were concerns that some parts of the Constitution cannot be attainable and they need to be changed. Let us be systematic and sober and change that together. But if we just put ourselves on a high mode of campaign and politicking, we will not get anywhere. In my opinion, to raise the annual allocation to 45 percent is not practical or attainable. Having said that, I think it is very unfortunate that the other House attempts to amend the Public Finance Management Act through the back door. That is a very substantive law and requires to be guarded properly. Sneaking it in a Bill like this knowing very well that you cannot do anything about it is not in good taste. I think our colleagues must take note of our concerns. I have no problem having budgetary ceilings being put on current and development expenditure. A ratio of 60/40 will be a good one. We do not want our county government to spend all the moneys on recurrent. We have been talking in this country for many years that the wage Bill or recurrent expenditure takes 70 percent of our revenues and budget figures and only 30 percent is left for development. We should actually aim to reduce our recurrent expenditure where feasible. We need staff to run our hospitals. We need to have staff to run various services. That should be balanced against the development that you are going to do. With those few remarks, I beg to support. As soon as this Bill is passed, we can send the money to the counties. We should stop talking about referendums. I personally will oppose any referendum which talks about increasing--- I understand the referendum that is being sought by my former party is for political reasons. But for this one, I think it is something which is totally out of place. 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."
}