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{
    "id": 980265,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/980265/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 183,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Hargura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 827,
        "legal_name": "Godana Hargura",
        "slug": "godana-hargura"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I thank Sen. Khaniri for bringing up this issue. For the better part of last year, counties have suffered because of this populist agenda which is being pursued by the national Treasury. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Article 6(2) of the Constitution states that- “The Governments at the national and county levels are distinct and inter- dependent and shall conduct their mutual relations on basis of consultations and cooperation.” It is the responsibility of the national Government to collect taxes. However, once they are collected, it is the responsibility of Parliament to budget between the two levels of Government. The national Treasury is supposed to share out the resources, as budgeted for by Parliament, and not become the owners of the resources. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, to the best of my knowledge, as it has been clearly said, the national Treasury cannot withhold funds from county governments unless with the authority from the Senate. I know that in the last Senate, we tried to stop funds to two counties, but we did not succeed because of the requirements. However, all of a sudden, a CS can just wake up and decide not to give funds to particular counties because of pending bills. We need to look at this issue of pending bills properly. This is because the kind of funding that is given to county governments should not, in any case, result to pending bills which accumulates, as we are seeing now. Once the funds are budgeted for in regards to what is allocated to them, if they follow their budget to the end of the financial year, there should be no pending bills. What happens is delayed funding. If funds are delayed and by the closure of the financial year, they have not been remitted to counties, they are supposed to re-budget for that. 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."
}