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{
    "id": 941420,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/941420/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 336,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. My fourth point is on the issue of equitable share. One of the things that we did is that we sent away the representative of the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) because in one way or the other, they tried to mislead the Committee that this borrowing does not have a direct bearing on the equitable share that is sent to each and every county that we represent in this House. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you keenly follow the calculation, in terms of sharable revenue that is brought before this House, the truth of the matter is that even in this current financial year, while at the previous years, it was anywhere close to between 20 and 22 per cent, this year it is at 17 per cent. That tells you that it is already decreasing even as things are. So, if you push this ceiling to Kshs9 trillion, chances are that we might even barely make it to 15 per cent. That is important for our colleagues to note. On the issue of county borrowing, because we are being enticed and being told that one of the avenues or the room that is being opened in terms of this borrowing is so that our counties can borrow. However, the truth of the matter is that for the last six years since the advent of devolution in this country, the national Government has guaranteed zero shilling in terms of debts to our county governments. So, if they have not done it in the last six years, why do you want to believe that at this particular time they will do it? I will be more prone to support regulations that specify that of this amount that we want to borrow, “X” amount is purely set for counties. If that is put on pen and paper, then I can support such regulations. The reason I want to do that is that all the 47 counties in this country are taxpaying. Sen. Wetangula tried to ask the Acting Cabinet Secretary this question: “Of the Kshs9 trillion that you are borrowing, how much will go to Bungoma County in terms of projects?” He was shown a project of Kshs100 million. It is a shame! How do you expect that I, in my rightful mind, as a representative of the people of Kericho County, to vote to increase such a debt ceiling when I cannot see even a single shilling in terms of projects going to my county? We are all Kenyans. Therefore, this business of the whole country borrowing, guaranteeing the 47 million of us, but projects going only to specific counties, some of us can never support this."
}