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{
"id": 1483722,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483722/?format=api",
"text_counter": 80,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 407,
"legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
"slug": "ledama-olekina"
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Let me begin by saying that this House shall fight for devolution. It is a bit hypocritical that in this era, we are talking about devolution, devolving funds to our counties and accountability---"
},
{
"id": 1483723,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483723/?format=api",
"text_counter": 81,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Sen. Cherarkey consulted loudly)"
},
{
"id": 1483724,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483724/?format=api",
"text_counter": 82,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Senator for Nandi County, may Sen. Olekina be heard in silence."
},
{
"id": 1483725,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483725/?format=api",
"text_counter": 83,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 407,
"legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
"slug": "ledama-olekina"
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, it seems as though the national Government, perpetuated by the National Assembly is eager to make sure that they deny county governments money. The distinguished Senator from Mandera County and his Committee have continuously reminded this House that when it comes to the issues of resources, all of us must stand firm and reject, in totality, the work that is done by the National Assembly. Our county governments have got feeder roads. I want us to look at Narok County as an example. Narok County is one of the counties that feeds this nation. It produces almost 80 per cent of wheat in this country yet its feeder roads are dilapidated. The National Assembly has now come in and decided that those additional grants are not worth it. Seriously! Somebody has to drill some sense into the minds of our colleagues in the National Assembly who are negating their role of representation. It does not matter whether you represent citizens from the National Assembly or the county. Ultimately, the county governments are the ones that will develop this nation. So, I want to beseech all of us that the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) is very important. This is a fund that has continued to help our communities. All of us, who The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1483726,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483726/?format=api",
"text_counter": 84,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 407,
"legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
"slug": "ledama-olekina"
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"content": "are sitting here, need to remember Article 123 of our Constitution, which states that you vote as a delegation. You need to remember that. If you come here and do not think about your county, your county will continue suffering. As long as I am here and God has given me air to breathe, I will always make sure that I fight for more monies to go to my county. I want to see roads from Mau Narok being repaired. When you go to the counties, they will tell you that we have no money to fix these roads because the National Assembly has removed the RMLF. This is the time for us to now redefine devolution. What is devolution? Every time we sit here and lament, and when a Motion comes from the National Assembly, we are quick to pass it. This is an opportunity for us to put our foot down. Those who will go into mediation should put their feet down. I say that because I want to persuade all of us here to reject those amendments in totality. If we cannot fix our county governments’ roads, then what else are we doing? Mr. Speaker, Sir, some counties are still struggling to build their county headquarters. There were grants there to support those counties to complete these county headquarters. I remember Sen. Faki came here, we moved a Motion and agreed to allocate Mombasa County a few more resources in order for them to build their sports complex. When we concentrate everything at the national Government, what impact will it have on the communities? We talk about all funds. When it comes into the issue of revenue share, they want to reduce that and even the Division of Revenue. I have never seen a situation where we have had to talk about amendments when there is a law that is in existence. Our counties are now crying because they have no money for anything. Sometimes, the doctors go on strike and when you follow up with the governors, they will tell you that they have no money to pay them. So, if we are not diligent and careful in our work, we will be sitting here and warming our chairs. From today, I beseech all of you to consider a Bill coming from the National Assembly and has got to do with resources as a problem. Remember that you have a hammer and such a Bill should be considered as a nail. All you need to do is to hammer it down in order for them to know that moving forward, these distinguished men and women will fight for their counties. If we do not fight for our counties, the future generations will laugh at us. They will wonder what all those old men were doing there. They will be pointing at the bullfighter and saying; “bullfighter, what were you fighting for if you were not able to help me get a road?” Yesterday, I saw statistics of the number of houses built out of mud in this country. I was very sad to learn that in my County of Narok, 60 per cent of homesteads are built out of mud. When will we be able to leapfrog and do away with stone age issues? Our forefathers lived in mud houses and now, in the 21st Century, we are wearing good designer suits and everything yet our people are living in mud houses. Come on! There is a ripple effect. If the road is bad, then it means that there is no development in that area. If there is no money to build county headquarters, people will just live there and not think of how to develop. In a few words, it is imperative that all of us here, especially the head of delegations, should have a clear picture of your county even as you sit here. You should The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1483727,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483727/?format=api",
"text_counter": 85,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 407,
"legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
"slug": "ledama-olekina"
},
"content": "have a spatial plan for all your urban areas as you sit here. You should ask yourself; what does my county look like? How many buildings are there? How many roads are there? If you go to your sub-counties, you also need to ask yourself a few questions. You need to know how many feeder roads are there in those sub-counties. That is when you will know that it behooves you to fight hard, so that not a single penny is deducted from those funds. You cannot remove those funds. Recently, we were told that our colleagues, who are in the Budget Committee of the National Assembly, make sure that their constituencies get a lot of money and they actually fight for it. I am sure my sister, Sen. Tobiko, who was a Member of Parliament at the National Assembly would wish to be in that Budget Committee so as to make sure that some money goes to Kajiado County. Unfortunately for her, she in now here, in the Senate. Those people will still want money for themselves. The question is; what will happen to you? Those Members will deduct the little money that is supposed to go to the counties. Unless we are all cognizant of the fact that we are here to fight for our counties, we will end up being a laughing stock. This is the time when we break the protocol and come up with hats and I am willing to sponsor that. Finally, I want to remind those that I believe will eventually go to the mediation committee that they have a duty. You are lucky that you drive a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) when going back home. There are people who are stuck in a Probox or boda boda in a dilapidated road. Your SUV will be able to go through, but think of that person who has been bundled up in a Probox or three or four people on a motorbike going through bumpy roads. Think about their generations, if there will be any. Thank you. I reject the amendments."
},
{
"id": 1483728,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483728/?format=api",
"text_counter": 86,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Sen. Ali Roba, proceed."
},
{
"id": 1483729,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483729/?format=api",
"text_counter": 87,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Ali Roba",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Receive my apologies for coming in a bit late. I take this opportunity for the purpose of making sure that hon. Senators are on the same page on the County Governments Additional Allocation Bill (Senate Bills No.19 of 2024) and why we have to reject the Bill as amended by the National Assembly. Hon. Senators, what gives us the moral authority to criticise our county governments is, if we do our sworn responsibilities of protecting devolution at all costs. That is the only time we will be able to have the moral authority to criticise what the governor has done or not. The Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) is collected by the Kenya Roads Board (KRB). It is supposed to maintain national truck roads and county roads. Now, the entire Kshs10.5 billion has been removed from the County Governments Additional Allocation Bill (Senate Bills No.19 of 2024). This is is the first time it is happening. About two years ago, that money was erroneously lumped up into the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) and alleged that it is part of Act. The Senate as well as the Council of Governors (COG) fought very hard to indicate that this is a fund appropriated by an Act of Parliament and it cannot be lumped up under the DORA. An allocation of Kshs10.5 billion was done under the County Governments Additional Allocation Bill (Senate Bills No.19 of 2024) as it has been for the last 11 The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1483730,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483730/?format=api",
"text_counter": 88,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Ali Roba",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "years. Counties are not getting revenue and there is no additional allocation. The inflation rate in county governments is very high. What they are getting as additional allocation every year in DORA is not even able to cater for the inflationary percentage of about six per cent that comes automatically without anything being done. The National Assembly has now gone ahead to remove the entire RMLF of Kshs10.5 billion. They have again moved further in reducing funds for a project initiated by the national Government. That is the Community Health Promoters (CHP), which was allocated Kshs3.2 billion. Staff have already been recruited and have a payroll number. The Kshs3.2 billion has been reduced to Kshs2.58 billion. That will be able to only cater for 86,133 CHP as opposed to 107,831 that are already working in our county governments. Mr. Speaker, Sir, and hon. Senators, there are funds that have already been realised like funds for the transfer of museum function, where funds follow functions. The functions have been transferred, but the funds are left. The Kshs30.1 million has been removed. Even more absurd is the court fines. A collection has already taken place. It has realised money and not projected revenue. The courts have already collected fines as a result of county legislation. However, these funds have been removed from the County Governments Additional Allocation Bill. What logical reason can we give as a Senate to rationalise the fact that money already collected on behalf of the county government by the courts has been removed? How can we start talking about austerity measures and such other issues? It cannot work. There are issues to do with mineral royalties, which are realised funds collected on behalf of county governments amounting to Kshs1.1 billion. That money has also been removed. This is supposed to be appropriated in percentages in line with the law, but it has been removed. Hon. Senators, this Senate has worked extremely hard over the last one year in consultation with every critical stakeholder on the issue of supplementary budget for county headquarters for five counties. Eventually, in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, we were able to arbitrate the situation. The five counties were promised that the national Government will finance them to construct their county headquarters. This project has stalled for over eight years. The five governors wrote to the Senate and requested if they can get a little allocation from the national Government transferred to them, and then they top up and finish their county headquarters. That process took us eight months. Eventually, the National Treasury, the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), the State Department of Public Works, the governors and the Senate agreed and the transfer was done to enable these five counties to complete their county headquarters. There is an allocation of Kshs528 million that was in the previous and the current County Governments Additional Allocation Bill that the governors had already signed and accepted they will top up whatever is missing for them to finish their county headquarters. That has now been insensitively removed, so that that project remains stalled for additional years without any consideration. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1483731,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483731/?format=api",
"text_counter": 89,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Ali Roba",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, and hon. Senators, those are the critical issues that I felt this honourable Senate needs to know on why we should reject this Bill as it heads to mediation. That is what I wanted to present to you. Thank you very much. I submit."
}
]
}