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{
    "id": 536801,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/536801/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 119,
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    "content": "in order to take care of areas that have been marginalized in the past. This fund which is now standing at Kshs6 billion is being given to some counties selected by the Commission of Revenue Allocation (CRA) without the approval of the Senate. On that basis, the Kshs6 billion is being allocated to some counties depriving counties that are already in need, like Kitui, Baringo and other counties that were already marginalized earlier on. The Constitution meant that this money cushions those counties and yet they are not benefiting. Therefore, I would like to see us get proper formula for the distribution of the Equalization Fund and ensure that we target those counties that are marginalized. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we spoke about the ceilings of county assemblies. As I speak here, many county assemblies have been grounded because they do not have money to look at the programmes that the county governments are undertaking. The Governor for Wajir confirmed that MCAs do not need these salaries. This is one way of governors suppressing county assemblies so that they do not oversight them. Therefore, the proposal by the Committee that this amount of money be moved from the national Government to the county governments in order to get enough money to make sure that county assemblies run efficiently, is a good idea. Therefore, I strongly recommend, approve and support the recommendation by the Committee that the money for salaries and the county governments, especially for assemblies be increased. Finally, I want to talk about the issue of emergencies. In this Bill, the national Government has been insisting on keeping emergency funds. As much as we know, most emergencies happen at the county level. Right now, quite a number of counties are facing drought. Many counties have not had rains for the last three, four or five seasons. Therefore, they are in great need of relief food, but the national Government cannot effectively supply foodstuffs to those counties. We devolved services so that county governments are closer to the people and that they understand the needs of the people and run quickly to the issues of emergencies. The same goes to emergencies like flooding and death occurring through certain unexpected circumstances. Therefore, it is my view - and I also I support very strongly again the recommendation of the Committee - that while the national Government remains with some funds, money for emergencies, of necessity, must be directed to counties because that is where emergencies are. In the first instance, county governments must respond to emergencies even before the national Government response. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the issue of accountability for funds by county governments has been raised. I have been consulting with my colleagues and we wonder how many of us Senators receive proposals of budgets from the county governors before they are sent to the county assemblies, so that you, as a Senator, are aware of the proposals the governor is making."
}