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{
    "id": 629902,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/629902/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 261,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "so that we do not legislate at the Senate even on issues that the counties can legislate. We do not want a central authority controlling the committees. We want them to be determined by the county assemblies in consultation with the national Government. Counties like Trans-Nzoia and Uasin Gishu spend a lot of money on agriculture. Health is a devolved function. There are referral hospitals and level 5 hospitals. Through the Division of Revenue, we have ensured that those who have a higher responsibility like Nyeri General Hospital are given additional resources due to their responsibility. Trans-Nzoia produces a third of the maize that is consumed in this country. We also deserve to be given that recognition and affirmative action. We deserve conditional grants to procure fertilizer and produce maize. The maize we produce is not necessarily for consumption in Trans-Nzoia County. It is for consumption in all counties staring with Turkana in the north. When it comes to allocation of resources, because of that special function that Narok, Trans-Nzoia and Uasin Gishu perform in terms of feeding the nation, they should be given additional resources in conditional allocations. The other important issue is the issue of credit. The Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) is the preferred bank or lender to the farming community. Yet, every year, AFC is getting lesser resources for onward lending to the farmers. I hope the National Assembly is listening and should provide adequate resources to AFC to be able to extend credit to farmers. The main devolved functions are agriculture, health and roads. However, when the counties get their allocations, how much do they dedicate to these three functions? The National Treasury should come out with directions specifically setting levels as to how much should be allocated to each of these functions. Without direction, some of the counties allocate resources to areas that are not within their mandate. We have seen counties putting resources into security, yet security is a function of the National Government, which has got adequate funds. Counties are constructing airports when people are going hungry; counties are constructing magnificent stadia when their residents do not have water and food. It is high time that this Senate together with the National Treasury arrived at certain levels or ceilings. For instance, every county, particularly like ours, must allocate at least 50 per cent of their resources to agriculture; livestock, crop production, sugarcane, fishing and all other crops, including cash crops. If we continue the way we are, we may face a situation where we will not have food. Technology and research are very important. However, the research sector, according to the experience we have had, is wanting. Fortunately, in our Stranding Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, we have held several conferences on tea, crops and animals. We are also planning to hold one for fish and another for coffee. What has come out is that there is very little being allocated to research in those fields to increase production and deal with parasites and so forth. Without research, there cannot be any progress. When we went to the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), an organization that deals with research on forests and natural resources, we found every researcher there is well above 50 years. There is no succession planning whatsoever."
}