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{
    "id": 645974,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/645974/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 134,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 170,
        "legal_name": "Bonny Khalwale",
        "slug": "bonny-khalwale"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support this Motion and congratulate the Senate Majority Leader for what he has just said a few minutes ago. I support this Motion because it will be a milestone in the legislative agenda of the 11th Parliament through this Senate; that we now give this country a well thought out formula based on the benefit of hindsight given that the formula that we have been using, was actually approved by the National Assembly. I sat in that Assembly and I recall very well that we did not pay too much attention to that formula. So, it was going to be grossly wrong if we ended our tenure as the 11th Parliament either by continuing with that same formula or completely failing to give our own thinking to this very important issue. I, therefore, laud this Senate especially the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Finance Commerce and Budget. It has been a very protracted exercise and he has exercised a lot of patience. It has been very difficult to bring all Senators on board. I congratulate the Chairman of the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), Mr. Micah Cheserem. He has truly been tested and he is a good, patient man. Congratulations! When you look at this formula that we have decided that we make a decision on adoption, the parameters that were there in the last formula were five; namely; population, basic equal share, poverty, land area and fiscal responsibility. It is good to note that because of the benefit of hindsight, we have now introduced a sixth parameter and that is the development factor. It is very important that we explain to Kenyans why we have found it necessary to introduce the development factor. Kenyans must know that this factor gives in this formula an opportunity to address, through consideration, of access to water, electricity and roads and capture existing economic disparities and development needs of the counties of the Republic of Kenya. This factor directly complements the poverty factor parameter so as to ensure that counties with the greatest development needs, get additional resources to bring services to the level enjoyed in other counties in accordance with Article 203(f) and(g) of the Constitution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, looking at the formula vis-à-vis the old formula, I laud the Committee for ensuring that emphasis remains on population. I also congratulate the Senators who come from sparsely populated counties for supporting this. Just like in the 10th Parliament, also in this Senate, it was very difficult to accommodate those Senators who thought they represented vast counties like Marsabit.They felt they were not being listened to. I must congratulate them. 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"
}