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{
    "id": 606260,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/606260/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 88,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Rudyard Kipling, one of those wise fellows who discussed and described the Seven Wonders of the World, once stated that you cannot continue doing the same thing all the time and expect to get different results. In the first Division of Revenue Bill, we had a contestation with the National Assembly, we went to court and we came back to the House and had a Special Sitting. In the second Division of Revenue Bill, we had a Special Sitting, we had arbitration, and we went to court, came back and had another Special Sitting again and discussed all the time arriving at the same thing. This time again, we went for arbitration as regards to the Division of Revenue Bill. It will be very unfortunate if we continue to do the same thing because we will continue getting the same results. In fact, we will not go anywhere. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to congratulate the Senate for standing very firm and arbitrating honestly and moving the figures allocated to the counties by Kshs3.3 billion. This is a positive mark and it was a good effort. However, what we got in return from the other House is vengeance, acrimony and distrust even on arbitration because I expected that we would not abuse the principle of arbitration by altering what was agreed on in arbitration. I just wonder what would have happened if before that, we had not had Kshs1 billion assigned to the Senate, where would the National Assembly get the Kshs1 billion to move to the counties. I think that the action of the National Assembly is very unbefitting for a House that represents the people and full of many people who had the opportunity to discuss each and every aspect of the Budget in detail. What the National Assembly did has serious implications. Increasing the amount of money that goes to the counties without enhancing supervision is actually setting this House to fail. If we are going to increase the amount of money that goes to the counties, it is only fair that we also enhance the systems in which we are going to have accountability. We already have two years down the line and we have a very sad story to tell as to the usage of monies that went to the counties. It was only befitting that the only thing that we can do after two years, if we learnt any lesson was to enhance the capacity and the oversight roles of the Senators over these funds so that they can be used in a manner that will not only support the people but the process which this country has chosen to follow; that is, devolution and that we should have done that by enhancing oversight. Secondly, by increasing the money which goes to counties without increasing supervision, we are just creating discontent between Senators and Governors. We know that the amount of wastage will be much higher and will definitely be a concern to us a bit more than before. Questioning that aspect of wastage will probably bring discontent between Senators and Governors and that does not augur very well for devolution that we are striving to achieve. We are aware that even with the little money that we have had, there have been very sad situations where it has gone down the drain. I am aware of the Governor of my county who uses close to Kshs20,000 to transport a special chair for him to sit on in meetings under trees or wherever. This is equivalent to school fees for one boy or girl for a whole year. Remember the sittings are weekly or daily. We spend quite a colossal amount of money on wasteful activities like these ones which are done in the counties without the superior role of a Senator to oversight and 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."
}