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{
    "id": 983305,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/983305/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 170,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba South, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Mbadi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "accounted for. The National Treasury was supposed to appear before us today, but they did not turn up. We hope to hold them to account to explain how exactly the allocation that is meant for Nairobi County to finance the functions that have been taken up by the national Government will be overseen by Parliament. We want to know whether a committee is going to be formed to execute those functions, or whatever is going to be done by the national Government. The funds for those functions will now go back to the national Government. Once that happens, how are those funds supposed to be overseen? Maybe, the National Assembly will have to oversee it because the Senate cannot oversee funds that are being spent by the national Government. Whether those functions were devolved functions or otherwise, still what the Constitution talks about is money allocated to the national Government. Secondly, there is the issue of possible reduction of revenue. It is true that in our wisdom as the people of Kenya, we decided to cushion counties such that amounts allocated to them cannot be reduced or deducted. They must be released in full. When there is an excess or possible over-collection of taxes, the law is clear that the excess is to be shared on a pro-rata basis between the national Government and county governments. This was for obvious reasons. We were cushioning the counties because they are not responsible for collection of revenue. The national Government is. Therefore, it is their duty. My colleagues have also mentioned that we are facing extreme unique conditions that may occasion a shortfall of an upwards of 30 per cent. There are people who have talked about 50 per cent but the projected figures as at now is that we may face a shortfall of about 30 per cent of the expected Kshs1.8 trillion revenue as a country. That is over Kshs500 billion. That is something to worry about. However, I do not support reducing the Kshs316.5 billion that is going to the counties. We cannot. This House should call for the National Treasury - if not the President - to come out clearly. The world will face a recession unless this coronavirus ends in a month or so. If it prolongs for a few months, it is obvious that the whole world will face an economic recession. Kenya will be equally hard hit, maybe even beyond the 30 per cent. I prefer the President to take his time. We are currently dealing with an emergency and are trying to save lives, but immediately that is managed - maybe in the next two weeks or so - the President needs to speak to the country. If not the President, then the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury should tell us exactly how we will stimulate the economy of this country so that we mitigate the possible effects of this pandemic on our economy, the economy of the region and the world as a whole. This is where we may need the support of our partners and friends who have stronger economic muscle like the United States of America (USA) and China, where this problem originated from. There is need for canvassing an international intervention to cushion the most vulnerable economies that are more exposed to those shocks. They need support. It is not something that we will address in form of amending the Division of Revenue Bill. It will not work. As a country, we must admit and accept that we have to plead with our bigger brothers to help inject more funding to this economy to jumpstart it. Otherwise, I foresee a situation where our economy may slowly stall like a broken-down vehicle. That would be a disaster for us."
}