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{
    "id": 842459,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/842459/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 77,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Linturi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 69,
        "legal_name": "Franklin Mithika Linturi",
        "slug": "franklin-linturi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on this Motion. From the onset, allow me to announce to the people of Meru, as part of my mandate, that today, out of this Schedule, Kshs8,007,000,000 will go to them. I would like them to know that as the Senator for Meru; we are busy trying to pass the disbursement schedule to ensure that the whole country has money to run the affairs of the counties. We are passing this schedule to release the money but a few questions must arise. As we do this, we must appreciate that the money that we are sending has to be applied and used according to the County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) and other approved programmes in the counties. This is not the first time that this schedule is being passed by this Senate. The amount of money we are trying to approve for disbursement is for the Financial Year 2018/2019. This means that we are not likely to sit to discuss on a disbursement at any other time within the current Financial Year. We are surprised when we get to our counties and relate with the suppliers and contractors, especially, when they share experiences with us regarding delayed payments for services rendered. I am sure the aspect of pending bills and late payments to contractors is not a new phenomenon. This is happening, not only in the county governments but even in the national Government. This being the first time, probably, that money is being sent to the counties after the passage of this Motion, the law provides that the first charge in any Financial Year is supposed to take care of the pending bills. Many counties in this country have huge pending bills. The effect of the huge pending bills in the economy of our counties and this country is so severe that the country right now is cash strapped. There is no money in circulation. People are crying. They are suffering. I use this opportunity to tell the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury that immediately the Senate passes this schedule, they should take the shortest time possible to send money to our counties. They should send this money so that the effect to the economy can be easily stimulated by the payment of certain pending bills in our counties. As we sit and grapple about the effect of under-collection of revenue in the country, one of the reasons that contribute to under-collection of revenue is the late payment of bills. When the Government does not pay bills, it means that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) cannot collect money because Value Added Tax (VAT) is not being paid. So, we get into a vicious cycle. When services are not being offered, the Government being the greatest employer and consumer of goods and services, and when nothing is happening, the economy remains stagnant. I hope the programmes proposed in the counties have some stimulating effect and the probability of changing lives of the people in our respective counties. How I wish if, for example, those counties that have no water or want to put some money in agriculture considered water provision or something like drought resistant crops, so that even as the 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."
}