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{
    "id": 842480,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/842480/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 98,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Eng.) Mahamud",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 373,
        "legal_name": "Mohammed Maalim Mahamud",
        "slug": "mohammed-mahamud"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I thank the Members for the contribution that they made to this Motion. It is true that it is a very important Motion approving the cash disbursement schedule to counties, which will enable the national Treasury to disburse funds to counties promptly and on time. As Members have said, we are concerned that funds do not go to counties regularly, especially in the last Financial Year. In the last few years, money has been released a few months to the end of the financial rear. For example, in the last financial year, or about five months ago, money was released in June and it will not help counties to plan. It is important that the Schedule that has been done today be implemented according to the law. The small correction that we made is, in fact, only a percentage error and not a serious mathematical error. So, when we submit the Schedule back to the national Treasury, that should be corrected accordingly. It is important that the Schedule is passed. In the atmosphere today, there is a lot of discussion about reduction of money in terms of what is happening with the Value Added Tax (VAT) and other things. We hear rumours – I do not want to anticipate debate – that there will be deductions also to counties. Members, be aware that anything which requires deduction of funds to counties must start from the Division of Revenue Bill, and that must be put in the County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA). So, we do not expect anything short of that. Beware that there is a discussion that about Kshs9 to Kshs10 billion will be deducted from this. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, issues of conditional grants to counties have been mentioned. Whereas we know that shareable revenue is the money that goes straight to counties, however, there are many grants and loans from donors which are domiciled in many Ministries. I challenge the Senate to take the role of oversight seriously to know where this money goes when it leaves the Ministries and what it is supposed to do. I think this is for every Committee starting from devolution to health. For example, what does the money for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP) do? I think we need to know as the Senate. For health, there are funds from the World Bank, the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and other donors. How is it being done? I think it is important that we take our oversight role seriously, know which Ministries this money is domiciled and oversight. We should also go to counties and see what those monies are used for especially on the leased equipment which Kshs9.4 billion is being paid for every year. First of all, 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."
}