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{
    "id": 983308,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/983308/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 173,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": "I was surprised when the Leader of the Majority Party was invited to second. I expected him to second, but he seemed to cast doubts on whether we should pass the Bill as it is. I want to share with the House to remove those doubts. Hon. Musimba may have risen and sneaked in something through a point of order to the effect that we will be suffering some revenue shortfall because of COVID-19, the desert locusts and many other issues. That is at the national level. What we need to focus on is the spirit of Article 292 where it states that counties must be insulated from the fluctuations of revenue because they do not have a role in the collection of that revenue. It is up to the national Government to do what it needs to to ensure that counties operate. The Constitution does not look at Article 292 in terms of just splitting what you have as revenue. There are many other provisions that state that in the splitting of revenue, you must also look at the needs at the county. You must look at the functions that have been delegated or devolved to the counties. There are 14 functions. The Kshs316.5 billion may not even be adequate to finance those functions to the full. The counties are always crying. Let us remember that the Kshs316.5 billion is based on last year’s allocation. It is not based on the new projected revenues for this year. It is based on last years’ allocation, to at least, maintain the status quo because at Kshs316.5 billion, was not enough. We have devolved those 14 functions to the counties. Whatever happens, they must be able to provide those functions. They provide functions and services at the grassroots level. The impact may not have been noted because there have been some governance challenges. Perhaps, that is where Parliament, through the Senate and the county assemblies, needs to seal all those loopholes so that the money that goes to counties can end up providing better value than it is currently. The next thing we need to bear in mind - and Hon. Mbadi has alluded to it - is that the national Government has access to other sources of funding. They can borrow and access exogenous shock facilities through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or through other sources. For example, we have Kshs8 billion pledged for this COVID-19 through the World Health Organisation (WHO) which will not be accessible to the county governments. In the event that revenues fall, it is up to the national Government to look at all the other options to see how we can mitigate on all those issues so that we, at least, deliver services on the ground and if anything, do not compromise or kill devolution. Even as we are looking at the budget of the national Government, there is still a lot of wastage. Perhaps, this is coming as a blessing in disguise. Let us first of all allocate the Kshs316.5 billion. Let revenues be realistic and let us challenge the national Government to rationalise their spending to live within their means. There are a lot of things that are being done and mega projects that we do not need at this point. When extraordinary circumstances arise, you take extraordinary measures. This is not just in spending but also in cutting costs and making sure you cut your suit according to the cloth you have and not the suit you want to attend that wedding with. I certainly believe that the national Government can still rationalise on spending without affecting the money going to counties. I urge this House that even as we think of any meetings between now and the Third Reading, we must commit ourselves to, at least, retain the figures we had last year. That is the least we can do for the counties. Anything else we do beyond that will lead to a stifling of the devolved functions. The people who will suffer most are those at the grassroots. There was a reason why we devolved those 14 functions. They are the ones that touch the mwananchi on the ground. The water, health, agriculture and livestock issues all touch the common man or woman The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}