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{
    "id": 959089,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/959089/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 467,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tharaka, DP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Gitonga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13491,
        "legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
        "slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
    },
    "content": "However, this Bill now comes in to ensure that counties do not suffer hardships as revenue is divided between the national Government and the counties. The National Assembly has been accused of stifling devolution, being against the counties and trying to ensure that they do not get sufficient revenue. Nothing could be farther from the truth than actually stating that this House does not support the counties and devolution per se. Therefore, this House did a scientific calculation of monies that have to be shared between the national Government and the counties. This is what is contained in the Division of Revenue Bill. However, where a stalemate arises as it happened recently, then this amendment that we have proposed today cushions counties so that they have funds to be running as the dispute is resolved. Counties have avenues, including going to court. We have a pending court case where the counties are saying that the National Assembly is misconducting itself. With this Bill, we would possibly avoid such cases and have counties, especially employees of counties, being remunerated when it falls due. It is a pity that when we go to our constituencies, we meet our constituents who are residents and employees of counties complaining, whining and whingeing that they have not received salaries for the last three months. The reason this has not happened is because we did not have any amendment as we do now. However, it cannot go without caution that county governments have always had many audit queries. We know of what is going on in the Senate where governors are being summoned and made to account for their actions which, in the view of the ordinary citizens and the Senators, are not merited. Government money and money allocated to the counties is misused and used in ways that do not benefit the common mwananchi . All these are issues that must be avoided. Money will be readily available to the counties, but they must use it prudently for the benefit of the citizens whom we, as the National Assembly, represent. The Senate is there to ensure that counties are taken care of. This House represents each and every Kenyan so that whatever money this House appropriates, whether to the counties, national Government or to whatever departments, must be used prudently and in accordance with the law."
}