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"content": "to agree with the Senator for Nyeri about the need for us to ensure that the revenue that we fight for so hard to go to counties is properly utilized. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in this Bill, I agree with the Chairperson who very efficiently delivered his speech, that there is a trend which is developing within the national Government to take a lot of money to the centre and deprive counties. For example, the money being given to the National Youth Service (NYS) and the Ministry of Devolution is a lot. This has been happening prior to devolution, where money was put in the centre and certain people used it to develop certain areas. So, in order to have equity in development, particularly in activities being run by the NYS, it will only be fair that this money is send to counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of health, I do not know about other counties; but in my own county – and I believe it is also true with other counties – health services have deteriorated greatly. In the past, when the national Government was running health services, it was difficult to find drugs missing in dispensaries and health centres. But today, some dispensaries have been shut down because of lack of personnel or drugs. Therefore, the issue of health services must be looked at very diligently in order to give sufficient funds for health services. That is why I support the proposal by the Committee to increase the amount being given for health services. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have been singing about Level 5 Hospitals; what about those counties which do not have these hospitals? The nearest Level 5 Hospital to Kitui County is Machakos and Embu. However, the service that we get in those hospitals is enough for us. We passed a resolution through a Motion in this House requiring that we should have Level 5 Hospitals in all counties in order to have equity in terms of health services. Therefore, I would like the national Government to go further than simply allocating little money here and there, for Level 5 Hospitals and ensure that we develop them at all county headquarters. That way, we will be allowing people to access health services. Therefore, I want to applaud the Committee’s recommendation that the amount of money available be increased to Kshs4.5 billion, as they have recommended. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of the equipment that is to be leased for hospitals, I would like to request that this proposal be looked at more diligently. This is because corruption – which is already a national issue that is being talked about – appears to be creeping in this institution so that before this amount of money is released to health facilities, due diligence should be done so that all the components of treatment, like the distinguished Senator for Kakamega has said, are available and the contract signed for so that we do not have white elephant equipment lying in counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is an amount of Kshs2.8 billion in the national Budget for the safety net. This is the money that is to be given to old people. As you recall, right on this Floor, many Senators expressed their concern about how this money is being used. As of now, the Ministry responsible has been unable to give us the names of the recipients of this amount. Therefore, here again money is being taken to people and is not being accounted for. Every time, I have stood in regards to the issue of the revenue distribution, I have talked about the Equalization Fund. The Constitution allowed for the Equalization Fund 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."
}