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{
    "id": 525361,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/525361/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 391,
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    "content": "So, we should not be intimidated by the fact that CRA has made a very beautiful document, very well packaged. It can all be undone in this digital era, we can redo these documents at night and come up with better documents tomorrow. It is for the Senate to fix the formula and not the CRA. It merely makes a recommendation which the Senate can reject or adopt. I am proposing that we adopt what they are telling us with amendments. I will also want us to look at Article 216 of the Constitution because the recommendations are not merely about allocating resources on the basis of population, poverty and all that. Article 216 state that:- (1) “The principal function of the CRA is to make recommendations concerning the basis for equitable sharing of revenue raised by the national Government- (a) between the national and the county government (b) among county governments” (2) “The Commission shall also make recommendations on other matters concerning financing of, and financial management by county governments as required by the Constitution and national legislation” We should not stop merely at the formula of making allocations on the basis of population and all the other criteria. There are these other recommendations. The question is: Where are those others under Article 216(2), in this Report? If we are not happy, we can send them back and ask them to come with a more comprehensive Report containing recommendations under Article 216(2). One of the areas that are bothering us, is if you read Articles 216 and 96, the Senate is given very clear responsibility by the Constitution regarding those national resources. If you look at Article 96(3), it states that:- “The Senate determines the allocation of the national revenue among the counties, as provided in Article 217, and exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to a county government” Therefore, you cannot separate what is being proposed by CRA and our own law as the Senate because it is for us to follow up on those resources and make sure that they benefit the people in the counties. This is where I want to make an amendment to this Report. You all, as Senators, know that although we have a very clear mandate to promote and protect the interest of the counties, it has not been possible for us to do so because we have no capacity as this institution or as Senators to carry out our oversight functions as required by Article 96(3). Similarly, how do we promote the interest of our counties if we are not able to meet the people in the counties to discuss with them because you are not representing yourself, you have to meet with the people, listen to them and take their recommendations? It tells me, under provisions on public participation that you can actively promote the interests which you have already heard from the people. Oversight is not merely a postmortem; there is also a pre-mortem. When they are making the plans, you should be there with your team to tell them this plan cannot work because it is putting too many resources here and there. Madam Temporary Speaker, after the plans are approved, I believe you have heard about County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs). They were all made in this country without any reference to a Senator. Precisely, you just read about mammoth 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."
}