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{
    "id": 781583,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/781583/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 100,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ng’ongo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "He is probably shocked. Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the Division of Revenue Bill 2018. I want to start from somewhere, but before I do that, there is something that I need to point out given that I heard the Leader of the Majority Party speak about. I also heard one of my colleagues speak about it regarding the CRA and the fact that CRA sits in IBEC and the figures they give should be the same as the figures that come from the National Treasury. Hon. Speaker, and with due respect, I want to disagree. I want to be very clear that CRA has a responsibility and a function to perform. There is a reason why CRA was created by the people of Kenya under Article 216 of the Constitution. Even though in IBEC, CRA is represented, all counties are represented through their County Executive Committees (CECs) responsible for finance. The National Assembly and the Senate are represented. I want to read the Constitution that gives CRA responsibility. That their function is to make recommendations concerning the basis for the equitable sharing of revenue raised by the national Government between the national Government and county governments and among the county governments. This is a very specific responsibility given to the CRA. Even though they are represented in IBEC, they need to come out with their own independent recommendations of what they think and feel that can finance both the national Government and the county governments. That recommendation can be taken or rejected. So, CRA is not forcing the National Assembly or the Senate or IBEC to take their recommendations. Bashing CRA for making recommendations that are different is missing the point. I do not want to say lack of understanding of their responsibility, but I want to be a bit careful and say that we should appreciate their role more. Hon. Speaker, Article 218 is very clear on how we need to treat the Division of Revenue Bill. This Bill divides revenue as has been said vertically between the national Government and county governments, but before, as a Parliament, what we need to look at is the provisions of Article 203 of the Constitution."
}