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"id": 952863,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/952863/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. (Rev.) Waqo",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13178,
"legal_name": "Naomi Jilo Waqo",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to give my mind on the approval of the county government Cash Disbursement Schedule for the Financial Year 2019/2020. It is good that we are discussing this very important matter at this particular time. We know that our counties have suffered for some time and are eagerly waiting for this. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we need to remind ourselves once again that through devolution, many of our people, the citizens, have really benefitted. Yes, corruption is high on the ground; many things are going wrong; maybe a lot of money cannot be accounted for, and a few individuals who are close to the executive are really benefiting and getting richer. We have what the people at the county level call “overnight millionaires.” However, even with all that, devolution has helped our people on the ground. Even in areas that we used to say were marginalized, you can now see great buildings coming up; people developing themselves, and the towns being developed. You can see some growth taking place. That is all through devolution, which we should see how it can continue and benefit our people even more and more. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is unfortunate that the division of revenue was based on the 2013/2014 audited report. Many years down the line, we are still basing that on the past five, six or even more years, which is unfortunate because it will not guide us well. However, because we are in that situation now, there is nothing much we can do. Although for the future, we should avoid that. It is my humble request to the Committee on Finance and Budget to work extra hard. Prof. Ongeri has put it clearly and said that they are determined to work almost 24 hours and make a difference. It is our prayer that this Committee will work extra hard, so that Kenyans who depend on this can have a clear mind on what is happening in their counties, and see how best we can improve the services on the ground. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when the counties do not get their monies on time, a lot of things are affected. The work on the ground is affected and salary payment is affected. This means that the performance of staff goes down, especially when you consider the health department, which depends on people’s effort and sacrifice besides the salaries they get. When the staff do not get their salaries on time, they are demoralized. We should, therefore, work very hard, so that the counties get their shares as early as possible. This will also ensure that even the National Treasury releases the money to counties on time. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we know very well that there are projects that have been going on for many years in many counties. Once they get this money, it is our prayer that even the stalled projects can be revived. There are people who have been given the job – the contractors – who are discouraged because they keep on paying loans. They have not been paid and there are so many things that are happening on the ground which are so discouraging. Sometimes, people even wonder why they have been identified as contractors or as people who are doing different things. Therefore, the stalled projects and other things that need proper attention need to be given this money. Before I conclude, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I know that we have always talked about financial mismanagement at the county level. This is something that is affecting the entire nation. Corruption is as a result of financial mismanagement. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}