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{
    "id": 843012,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/843012/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 254,
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    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, this is the sixth year of implementation of devolution and we are still talking about problems of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS). It is worsened by what Sen. M. Kajwang’ is talking about; that people have to lobby for the funds. We need to have a very honest discussion because the life of more than 50 million Kenyans depends on devolution. Madam Temporary Speaker, Article 174 of the Constitution is very clear and it states that the objective of devolution is:- “to promote social and economic development and the provision of proximate, easily accessible services throughout Kenya.” However, Article 175 of the Constitution is very specific and it states that:- “county governments shall have reliable sources of revenue to enable them to govern and to deliver services effectively.” Those two Articles summarise everything that is meant to happen in terms of devolution. It is one thing to come here and approve this Report and to have the money disbursed, but from the reports that we are getting, this money is not properly disbursed. It is either disbursed in sections or some counties have to lobby. Subsequently, we also have problems finding out what the money has been used for. Madam Temporary Speaker, part of the objects of devolution was to enhance checks and balances and the separation of powers; this is where the problem lies. I do not think that in the Eleventh or in the Twelfth Parliament, we can come up and say that we have satisfactorily handled the issue of separation of powers. Looking at the way decisions are being made, the three organs of Government –the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive – are increasingly becoming one organ rather than three organs which should be very effective.The county assemblies should also be able to hold the county governments accountable using the power they have. The role of the Senate, therefore, is very critical. Just listening to Sen. M. Kajwang’ gives us the Business of this Senate and what we are meant to do to ensure that these errors are actually addressed. One of the issues he mentioned is that even in these disbursements, we have mistakes right here. That needs to be addressed. The CARA approval should be made by 30th April which means we are far beyond the time. Article 175 is very clear about the reliable and timely disbursement to these counties. Many counties will talk about most of the resources being taken up by recurrent expenditure. There is also the developmental budget which is critical. That also needs to be handled for devolution to have an impact. Many of these counties have not delved into the development budget. We have a recurrent budget that keeps on increasing. In the 11th Parliament of the Senate of Kenya, we began to address some of the issues, for example, we had the budget ceilings that the Senate put in the county assemblies to ensure that certain expenditures do not overflow beyond a certain limit, both at the level of the county assemblies and also at the level of the county executive and the County Executive Committee Members (CECs) who are part of that executive. That worked. Madam Temporary Speaker, the role of this Senate is getting clearer and clearer. If I refer to what Sen. Kajwang’ has mentioned, then we will have to go to these counties and interrogate what the issues are and how they can be addressed. The Senate is moving 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."
}