Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 525327,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/525327/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 357,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "How else do you help counties to get to that level? You cannot use this formula without looking at what the historical context devolution came to redress. We miss the point. Even Elgeyo-Marakwet County needs to have the injection of certain capital. I think we need to do an audit or assessment of counties. We need to determine the progress indicators in various counties and what they need so that then this mapping can allow us to allocate resources. If you talk about poverty, we know that there is poverty in Mathare and Kibera. You cannot just say that the counties which meet a certain index of poverty are the deserving ones. There is poverty in certain areas in Nairobi and, therefore, you need to do that kind of evaluation so that you scratch your head a little more to know that you cannot equalize poverty by saying that only those poor ones in Mandera will benefit from the Equalisation Fund. There are those who are also unfortunately poor in Nairobi. What do you do to enhance what we call social justice? That was one of the visions of devolution. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, initially, we could be simplistic and get away with this formula but I think in future formulas, we need to get a little deeper and explore our heads a little more. I am still not persuaded that this formula addresses some of the concerns and issues affecting counties. If you look at Mombasa County, for instance, which is a commercial hub, there is constant migration into this town, which puts pressure on the entire service delivery sector every other time. Are those indicators factored? That happens almost every day. We need to have a more robust agreement and not just look at figures and say that this time round, we can use Ksh5.1 billion to pay salaries and have Kshs1 billion extra. We need to look at how we are going to develop this country and equalize it within that principle of equity so that people who are worse off become better off before those who are better off become well off. However, we are continuing to do the same thing. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, why did we fight for this Constitution? We need to go a little deeper. I think I am getting a little anxious that we have lost another opportunity for another two years. I will not vote for another two years for myself, because this is not just right. We need to ensure that we cushion counties from the pressures that come with development and the indicators. We should look at Lamu County and see how we can develop it in terms of some of the functions that have been devolved like health care. They need to build first class hospitals. How will they do it with Ksh2 billion? We need to see what the needs of these counties are and make further assessments before we convince ourselves that this formula really meets the expectations of devolution. As the Senate moves on, we need to take a step back. Everybody might have missed the point on devolution. That is why we need that meeting with the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), the Budget Office, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Ministry of Devolution and the Council of Governors, to reposition what devolution was all about so that we meet its expectations. I oppose."
}