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{
    "id": 603063,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/603063/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 260,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "parameters of each county. You will recall recently that we suggested that the Division of Revenue should be on the basis of economic or data in each county. Even the CRA was hard pressed because they have no data to base these economic activities. This means that on the basis of statistics, we should now devolve. Counties do not have the capacity. I see here that it is proposed that counties will do baseline surveys. Most of our counties cannot even manage the financial accounting set at professional standards. When it comes to statistics, they are not going to do it. Therefore, there is need for us to come up with an amendment to this Bill which will make the KNBS to compel counties to provide statistics on an annual basis. The issue of budget priorities is also an area that should be addressed if we are to target those areas that will ensure there is economic and social progress for our people. I do not want to repeat what previous speakers have said about priorities, but our Constitution currently says that there must be public participation. If we were to really stick to public participation and hear what our people have to say, then these issues of social and economic progress would be addressed because people want to improve their welfare. Unfortunately, public participation has become just, but public participation. Nobody is monitoring to ensure that whatever the public says really adhered to in the budgeting process. It looks like other priorities have come in, and people want to invest or put money where they will have cuts for personal need and aggrandizement and not for the public good. If you look at the budget of counties that are approved by county assemblies, perhaps, there is an element of public participation. However, in the middle of the year through what we call supplementary or revised estimates, that budget is unilaterally overturned by the Executive. Unfortunately, most county assemblies are brought into it and whatever was the contribution of public participation is done away with. Such projects are introduced to suit specific suppliers who have made some commitments somewhere to compensate officials in the county governments. It is important that we set standards in the budgets. This does not affect only the county assemblies or the county governments, but also the national Government. We should avoid coming up with projects which we never budgeted for in the first place. The best way that has been found to circumvent the budgeting process which is the mandate of Government or Parliament, is the issue of borrowing. In borrowing, you just introduce a project by way of financing it. That way, we end up committing our citizens to paying debts which are not thought of and which will not improve their welfare. We need to thoroughly address the issue of public debt. I do not see why the Senate, which represents counties, cannot have a say when Kenya is being subjected to public debts. Devolution held a promise. I still believe that devolution can get us out of this problem of economic and social malice. Devolution means the resources will go to the people and near the people. We do not want resources to go to the people for them only to smell, but not taste. The Constitution talks about devolution to counties and also says the counties should devolve further. By further, I mean the sub-counties, wards and even the village levels. 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."
}