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{
    "id": 605884,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/605884/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 290,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support this Bill that seeks to apportion revenue available to the 47 county governments. The amount of money that is available to the counties is still a far cry from what the counties require. A figure of Kshs259 billion out of a budget of Kshs2 trillion is still small considering that this money that is going to the counties is money that is going to the grassroots or directly to the people of Kenya who we represent in this House. When we talk about the Constitution, it gives sovereignty to the people and that authority is exercised through the elected leaders. If all Kenyans were to be asked how much money should go to the counties, certainly it would not be the figure we are talking about. Nevertheless, the Senate has tried all it could as the defender of counties to safeguard and ensure that they get what they deserve. We may not have succeeded in getting what we needed, but certainly the counties are going to get more than what they got last year. This is not to say that we are complacent. I believe that come next year we should be able to raise this figure by all means even if it means having some constitutional amendments to ensure that counties get their share. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the formula for distribution of funds to the counties is a formula that we inherited when we came to this House. Next year, we should be able to come up with our own formula that will ensure more equitable distribution of resources. In the first year, the formula may have been appropriate. However, since the funds have kept increasing, the gap between the county that receives the highest amount of funds and the lowest is widening. We should consider other parameters to ensure that the gap is lessened. When we look at the estimates of expenditure as expounded by the Cabinet Secretary, it is evident that there are more funds being taken away from functions which"
}