Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 909148,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/909148/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 326,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Let the country know that the team that was negotiating for us has our full mandate. Let the country know that we stand by the supremacy of this Constitution in the accordance with Article 2 of our Constitution. Let the country also know that in accordance with Article 201, the Principles of Public Finance, sub-section b(i) and (ii), the burden of taxation shall be shared equally. I believe that mama mitumba, mama mboga are paying Value Addition Tax (VAT) and everything else, which will form part of the revenue raised for sharing. Article 201(b) states- “The public finance system shall promote an equitable society, and in particular- i.The burden of taxation shall be shared fairly; ii. Revenue raised nationally shall be shard equitably among national and county governments; and” Madam Temporary Speaker, no one is doing anybody any favour. It beats my imagination that you can stand up and say that the national budget is Kshs3.02 trillion and that the revenue raised rose from Kshs1.6 trillion to Kshs1.9 trillion now. In every way you look at it, there is an increase of revenue; then you want to come and say that in respect to county governments, we reduce the allocation. You then add that if you must reconsider, you will only give a paltry Kshs2 billion for 47 counties. This is not equitable and it is not in accordance with the Constitution. What they are doing today is an exercise in futility until the Division of Revenue Bill is in place. There will be no Appropriation Bill coming for approval. For that matter, I expect the President not to sign that Appropriation Bill into law. This is because it will be based on a nullity that has not taken care of the equitable sharing of resources among the national Government and the county governments. This is a constitutional moment. For us, as a Senate, we must stand our ground because I believe we are on the right course. Let Kenyans rally behind us, because this is their money that they must use it for equitable development in all the corners of this Republic of Kenya. There is no discrimination, whether it is in Wajir, Kisii, Nyamira or Kisumu counties. There must be equitable sharing of these resources. We are only demanding that we must get our pound of flesh that we have invested through the taxation."
}