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{
    "id": 900255,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/900255/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 167,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "when you interpret Article 96, it is clear. It says that the responsibility of the Senate is to represent the counties and their interests. So, what is the interest of the county governments? One of the critical interests is more money to go to the counties so that devolution can work. When you look at the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, the functions that have been devolved are not proportional to the money they have been allocated. More functions are devolved to the counties, but the money that is allocated to them is not proportionate. It is difficult when it comes to division of revenue, dividing the revenue vertically. In other jurisdictions, they base it on the budget, but here we are basing it on the audited accounts which are about two to three years old and we are talking about those of 2015/2016. As we do this and as people move to mediation, it is important for us not to throw out this baby with the bathwater. Devolution is here to stay. It has done very well. I am aware that we have some governors who might be corrupt and instead of money going to the ground, it is going to people’s pockets. We should not mix the two. My humble request is that we must debate with sobriety. As we move to mediation, those of you who will be in that committee must look at this issue objectively and put devolution ahead of us. In my opinion, I strongly feel as per Article 96 of the Constitution that the Senate has a role to defend the county governments. In other areas, devolution has done very well. The last time we were in Kakamega County, we noticed that Governor Oparanya has done very well. We are calling upon other counties to go there and try to benchmark. There are other counties where monies have been misappropriated but the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Director of Public Prosecutions are there to take care of that. Hon. Members, as we debate, please I kindly request that we should not kill devolution. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}