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{
    "id": 643802,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/643802/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 114,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Eric Keter",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1208,
        "legal_name": "Eric Arap Keter",
        "slug": "eric-arap-keter"
    },
    "content": "equipment, of Kshs4.5 billion is commendable. However, there should be ways whereby in the long run the same equipment belongs to the institution so that we do not continue leasing for years. There is a grant of Kshs4.3billion for maintenance of roads. The other day we were told that roads will be transferred to the county governments. I am of the view that we should not transfer this vital service. It is very difficult to explain to our people in our constituencies that this service has been transferred to the county governments. County governments have got so many challenges. Transferring some of these services to the counties when they are in a situation where they cannot implement well all those services, is questionable. I am of the view that we look into this issue seriously. If possible and if it is a must that we transfer them, I prefer that we transfer them to Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) because they are better handled that way. If you look at the Budget and see how these funds have been used in the counties, about 70 to 75 per cent is used for recurrent expenditure. About 20 to 22 per cent is used on development. What was the essence of disbursing this money? Are we trying to employ more people? Was our objective to have as many people employed in various counties? This is questionable and as a country we cannot move forward in that direction unless we have a way on how we can improve development in various counties. Finally, on the issue of local revenue collection, every county should have ways of improving their own local revenue collection so that they do not depend much on what the national Government gives. If we go that direction, we are killing two birds with one stone. We are allowing the governors and executive at that level to go and search for more money to boost their income. Issues of governors mismanaging this money is another concern. In some counties, you will find a governor engaging the county in court cases which are irrelevant to the people and are not vital to the extent that a lot of money is wasted. So, I do not know how best this can be avoided. I want to plead with the Senate that they move closely to these counties and see how this money is being used and how the governors should be advised to properly use this money, otherwise I support the Bill."
}