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{
    "id": 980304,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/980304/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 222,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. This is an important Statement that has been brought by our colleague Sen. Khaniri about what is increasingly becoming a wrong attitude by the National Treasury towards our county governments. We will recall that a few months ago, when the issue of pending bills cropped up, many of us questioned the wisdom and the judgement of our colleagues who were quick to jump onto the train and support that we have to ensure that counties pay and that pending bills are reduced. It is our joy and pleasure for counties to pay pending bills. The biggest question that the critics of that process kept on asking is; who between county and national governments can lecture the other on pending bills? However, because of the season we are living, it is becoming increasingly difficult to speak about devolution. I see a struggle in many of our colleagues who are here for their first time and do not distinguish between dislike for their governors and dislike for devolution. You cannot equate your governor with devolution. He maybe a thief and you may not like them, but please defend devolution with all that you have got because this is a gift that Kenyans bequeathed to themselves after a long and tedious bloody struggle. We cannot afford to go back. Going by what Sen. Khaniri has said, it tells you that our counties continue to suffer. This is the season of the Budget Policy Statement. As a House, we are not able to explain why, despite agriculture and health being over 90 per cent devolved, billions of shillings still remain with the national Government, yet we know that if that money was sent to our counties, they would ensure that primary health care is offered to our citizens and agricultural extension officers would be given the necessary tools, facilities and funding to ensure that we have got thriving agricultural sector in this country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir"
}