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{
    "id": 801737,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/801737/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 76,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Limo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1915,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Kirui Limo",
        "slug": "joseph-kirui-limo"
    },
    "content": "way of allocation by this Budget. This annual Budget is particularly very important given that it is the first Budget after the 2017 election. It was a very difficult period especially when we, for the first time, faced two elections in a row. I thank this House because we worked around it to ensure that proper funding was given for that election. In the spirit of working around and ensuring the country moves on, our Committee discussed this Budget. We made several observations which I want to bring to your attention. Let me start with the commission which we oversee, namely, the CRA. I want to state very clearly that CRA has new commissioners. We have stated very clearly to the commissioners who are now in office that they must move away from the approach the previous commission was following in terms of identifying marginalised areas. Issues of marginalisation are widespread. We want a situation where the Constitution is followed to the letter. This Commission is charged with identification of marginalised areas. The previous commission identified marginalised counties. We want a situation where in every constituency, there is even a sub-location which is marginalised. So, we are asking the CRA to change the policy and ensure that any sub-location or an isolated village which seems to be marginalised in the spirit of the Constitution, should be identified and funded. It was very sad that in the previous commission, the then chairperson shed tears when he and his commission visited Kitui County. He found people who were suffering, did not have food, classrooms and children were studying under trees. In the marginalised counties, Kitui is not included. It is actually a paradox, which we want to deal with in this country. In terms of policy changes, we recommended to the CRA that they move to the smallest unit of this country including a village. The allocation for this particular commission deemed inadequate, but we asked them to utilise whatever they earn. We recommended little increase for the purpose of working around change of formula. The change of formula is another thing which should be looked into. We should relook at the weight which is currently given in terms of reviewing the way we look at population, landmass and rethink whether we are allocating resources which are not going to resolve marginalisation in future. If you continuously allocate without looking back, you will find those counties which currently seem to be ahead of others being backward in a few years, and it will be very difficult to catch up with the rest. We are, therefore, recommending a policy change in the country in totality. The last one on this commission and you have realised, is that every time they always want to bring collision between the national and county governments. They look at the revenues, but not at the percentage growth in revenue vis-a-vis the allocation. They just allocate without critically looking at the capacity of the country to raise that particular revenue. This country must move away from the spirit of sharing the cake. All of us must be counted. We must also talk and put a lot of effort in the baking of the cake. The issue of calling each other and saying that we need to share should be something of the past. The way to go is for this particular commission to participate in recommending policies which will bring a lot of revenue to this country and, therefore, they should be thinking outside the box. The other commission which is very unpopular in this House is the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. We must move away from putting individuals into positions and when they assume those positions, they forget that they are in public office. They must do their work in good faith. The SRC is another commission that we do not understand. In the previous dispensation, we did not have it, but salaries were being shared in an amicable manner. Before the commissioners’ term ended, they had created a situation where when Kenyans heard of them, they thought of Parliament. They thought they are going to cut salaries of Members of The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}