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{
    "id": 605271,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/605271/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 350,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Obure",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 118,
        "legal_name": "Christopher Mogere Obure",
        "slug": "christopher-obure"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to support this Bill on equitable allocation of revenue among county governments. The Kshs259 billion proposed in this Bill to be divided among the 47 counties is, in fact, nearly equal to the Kshs258 billion that this Senate considered adequate to meet the needs of counties two years ago in the Financial Year 2013/2014. Since then, Senators transferred a number of key functions from the national Government to counties. Unfortunately, the marching resources have not been transferred which means counties will not be enabled to perform those functions. My opinion is that we could be setting up counties for failure. I am, therefore, of the strong view that far too much money is being retained by national Government Ministries. This is demonstrated by the fact that in a Budget of Kshs1.8 trillion, only Kshs283 billion which includes additional conditional allocations is going to counties. I need to emphasize that we need more money in the counties and we will continue to fight for more money to go to counties. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, look at the whooping Kshs25 billion that has been given to the National Youth Service (NYS) which is an institution working under the Ministry of Devolution and Planning. The money is meant to construct dams and roads and yet this is a devolved function. This money should be given directly to counties so that if they wish to engage NYS, then they are at liberty to do so. Irrigation under the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries has been allocated a huge sum of money and yet the function of agriculture and livestock has been devolved. In health, Kshs59 billion is being retained at the Ministry of Health headquarters and yet we know that health services were devolved. Health care facilities such as dispensaries, health centres and hospitals are under the care of county governments. This is the precise amount that we are giving to seven of our largest counties in terms of population. Look at the amounts given to Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kakamega, Mandera and Kisii counties. That is precisely the amount that we are giving 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."
}