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{
    "id": 680094,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/680094/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 123,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungai",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 890,
        "legal_name": "James Kiarie Mungai",
        "slug": "james-kiarie-mungai"
    },
    "content": "Thank you Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I am happy to be present in the House today to deliberate on the disbursement of funds to our counties. If possible, we should approve the Schedule so that the money can be transferred to our counties. Currently, there are serious issues whereby many county staff are threatening to strike because of non-payment of salaries. The suppliers are now complaining because of late payments. Therefore, it would have been important for all the Senators to be present - after the message was circulated – to pass this Motion. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Deputy President is visiting my county. However, I decided to skip his visit and to be in the House so that I pass the Bill. For anybody else to fail to attend this important activity - because it forms the backbone of our work - is totally unacceptable. I take this opportunity to thank the Government. In the last Budget, my county had been allocated Kshs3 billion. As per this schedule, my county has been allocated Kshs9.5 billion. I thank the Government because I have seen a gradual improvement. In the first year, my county received Kshs5.9 billion. We will receive Ksh9.5 billon this year. This is almost double the amount that Nakuru County received in 2013/2014. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this House has done its best. We have fought to ensure that enough money is allocated to our counties. That is why devolution was mooted. It is unfortunate that despite so much money going to the counties; there are still serious challenges that wananchi face. For example, in Nakuru County, there are 11 constituencies and a population of 2.5million people. There is little happening on the ground despite the fact that after we pass this Motion, Kshs35 billion would have been remitted to my county by the Government. I would like to challenge my county assembly. The role of the county assembly is to ensure that they pass the budget of the executive and oversight on the funds that they have approved in that budget. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in Nakuru County, the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) do not understand that for each and every shilling that has been allocated to Nakuru County, first of all, they are mandated to approve its usage, and secondly, oversight it. Majority of the people in my county think that oversight is done by the governor or the Senator. It is therefore, difficult for people to understand that the governor and the county assembly are supposed to ensure that the funds that are remitted and approved by this House are used prudently. 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"
}