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    "id": 647477,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/647477/?format=api",
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    "content": "potentially have significant impact on the social interest of the citizens. They must be anchored in Vision 2030 and medium term plan and the resource investment. Therefore, those are the general details on the memorandum. The Members can look at them. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on page 16, as required by law, the Bill must set out in the memorandum the variation between the amount proposed in the Bill and the recommendations of the Commission of Revenue Authority(CRA). I encourage the Members that we pass this Bill because it provides additional funding to the county governments. It is also important that we pass it because of the time. They need to do the county allocation of revenue in time so that the county governments can also budget on time. I reiterate that it is important that the county governments appreciate that it is not about the Senate, but allocating money or resources to the county governments. Parliament has a duty through the Senate to ensure that there is oversight over the use of the resources. This is a major problem that every county is experiencing. The reports by the Controller of Budget and Auditor-General show misuse of resources. An example is the Council of Governors’ Conference. The conference is supposed to be about devolution. The stakeholders in devolution include national Government, Parliament and all other institutions, but regrettably the way it has been designed is like devolution belongs to counties only. This is the reason Senators have not attended. Counties have also become dens of corruption. Over nine governors are under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, nearly 15 people have been transported from Mandera County to attend the conference in Meru. They have carried vegetables and fruits that have been purportedly grown in Mandera County. In the social media, there are pictures of the three watermelons that have been transported all the way from Mandera at a high cost. It was under exhibition that, that it is what is grown in Mandera County. I do not think the people of Mandera and Meru counties need to see how watermelons look like. I do not also think that there is need to demonstrate to the rest of the country that Mandera County grows watermelons. The people of Mandera need to be convinced that their money is being spent well. That is what is more important than the exhibition. Therefore, we end up spending millions of shillings and a lot of time, among other resources, trying to demonstrate to the country that we are doing well. This is the point about devolution that our governors miss. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is about Public Relations (PR). They seem to be focusing on the PR aspect and going out of their way to showcase how they are the best. It is unfortunate. When Kenyans are lacking water and drugs in hospitals, the governors are spending millions in conferences to show people that devolution is working. What is important is to show the residents that the county government is delivering on devolution. With those many remarks, I request the Senator for Kakamega County to second."
}