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{
"id": 1565492,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565492/?format=api",
"text_counter": 177,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "In considering the proposals, the committee was cognizant of the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) for financial year 2025/2026 that we passed a few months ago. Our recommendation of Kshs465 was based on factors that we considered. For us to settle on Kshs465, there are factors that led to that."
},
{
"id": 1565493,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565493/?format=api",
"text_counter": 178,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The CoG proposed Kshs536 billion, but we proposed Kshs465 billion. This is where I would like you to listen keenly. One of the key issues are the Housing Levy deductions. These are additional recurrent costs that affect all the 47 counties. With those additional costs, counties need to do their statutory remittances."
},
{
"id": 1565494,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565494/?format=api",
"text_counter": 179,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Yesterday we were in Kitui County doing oversight and we looked at the issue of pending bills. What we discovered is that non-remittances of statutory deductions have led to increase in pending bills. If counties do not get enough funding, what happens to the Housing Levy deductions?"
},
{
"id": 1565495,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565495/?format=api",
"text_counter": 180,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Today we were with the President, His Excellency Dr. William Ruto, at Mukuru kwa Njenga and he handed keys to people to occupy new homes. When the issue of Housing Levy deductions came up last year, there were a lot of politics around it. Today, we witnessed Kenyans receiving keys to get into their new homes. Coming from the slums, they did not also believe that it was happening. If we do not consider the budgets for the counties as far as the issue of the Housing Levy 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": 1565496,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565496/?format=api",
"text_counter": 181,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "deductions is concerned, what will we be doing to our people in this country who are still living in the slums? Article 43 of the Constitution is very clear. It is the responsibility of the Government to provide affordable housing and ensure good environment for its citizens. Today, Dr. William Ruto made history when he went to Mukuru kwa Njenga and handed over keys to people from places where even toilets are a problem. You could see leaders politicking because when you go to their houses, they have even five toilets, but how many toilets can you use at once? When we settled on Kshs465 billion, these are some of the issues that we considered. As I have stated, they include Housing Levy deductions. We also have enhanced contributions for National Social Security Fund (NSSF). This is a subject matter that we have always talked about. The President has been on the forefront talking about situations where people retire, go back home and still live on the little that they have saved in form of pension. With enhanced contributions, one will live a bit comfortable life even after retirement. Parents should not continue thinking that they will depend on their children because the kind of children we have nowadays are focused on their lives totally. They are not like us who still take care of our parents. When these contributions are enhanced, it will give retirees an opportunity to continue living comfortable lives. It is sad when people retire and embrace living standards that they were not prepared for. Another one was the issue of the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs). A total number of 18 counties have already received funding. Funding has already been given, projects have been awarded, contractors have started these projects and are at a certain level. That is where we will see bloggers going out there and say, “Amount X of this money, in billions or millions, was put in this particular project. However, this project has stalled.” So, did someone misappropriate the money or what really happened? The narrative that goes out there is someone misappropriated the money. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, at times, it is because we are not giving enough funding for these projects so that they are completed. When I go back to the issue of the housing project today at Mukuru, it was so emotional for the families. We were happy as leaders because we saw where the money that we are being deducted as housing levy is going to. I am sure by the time this project is getting finished in the next two years, over 60,000 Nairobi City County residents will be occupying their own homes. There is another issue of the Community Health Promoters (CHPs). This is a key programme that is shared in terms of the remuneration between the county government and national Government. We have met the CHPs for Nairobi City County. They say the national Government has given them their share, but the county government has not. This budget is about Kshs4 billion. I am happy because when the Cabinet Secretary (CS) was giving us his schedules on health matters, he indicated that there is a budget for the CHP. So, this is important because already these people are already on the ground, doing a great job, yet their remuneration is small. It is Kshs2,500 from the county government and Kshs2,500 from the national Government. 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": 1565497,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565497/?format=api",
"text_counter": 182,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "In reference to procurement of new medical equipment, how do we continue running hospitals without the right and modern equipment that are needed? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to proceed to meeting the outstanding obligation under the doctors Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The issue of the doctors is a pertinent issue that needs to be addressed, once and for all. Health is devolved. Therefore, the county governments need to get funding to be able to sort the issue of the doctors’ CBA. This explains the decision for Kshs465 billion. I say so because this is a lot of money. It is not pocket change and it has to make sense for our brothers at the National Assembly to understand why we are asking that we approve the Kshs465 billion to the County Government? These are some of the many recurrent expenses. Of course, there is the annual wage rift. Every year, as you know, there is annual wage and salary increment for the staff. So, where do they get the money if we do not consider this? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I keep on supporting Kshs465 billion to the county governors, I would like to remind them to sort the stinking animal, called the pending bills. We cannot be on the floor all the time understanding the situations at the county and pushing for more funding if the governors are also not doing what they are supposed to do. They need to ensure that their pending bills are at zero levels. I was so impressed yesterday in Kitui County. We met the County Assembly and they reported to us that their pending bill is at zero. They have no pending bill. These are the same institutions working in the same counties. Which formula is this one using versus the other one? I know there are challenges in terms of timely disbursement of funds from the National Treasury, but there should be schedules that should be adhered to clear that. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in our many observations, we note that there has been marginal growth in the county equitable share from the previous financial years, despite the substantive growth in the shareable revenue. In financial year 2025/2026, which is this year, while shareable revenue is estimated to grow by 10 per cent, which is Kshs259 billion. Counties are projected to increase by Kshs17.7 trillion from this revenue growth. That, over the years, the county equitable share has an average of 2.23 of the Gross domestic product (GDP) and in the financial year 2025/2026, nominal GDP is projected to be Kshs19.5 trillion. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Committee made the following recommendations- That, Clause 3 be amended to make a reference to Article 202(i) of the Constitution, which requires revenue raised nationally be equitably shared between the national and the county levels. The Committee emphasized on this because it is in the Constitution. It is not our words. We are not making this. The schedule to the Bill be amended such that the total shareable revenue is Kshs2.7 trillion. Remember I said earlier, the Cabinet Secretary tabled and communicated that the projected revenue collection is not Kshs2.8 trillion, but Kshs2.7 trillion. We adopted that, so, the total shareable revenue to be at Kshs2.756 trillion. The most recent accounts of the revenue as approved by the National Assembly, as I earlier communicated, is at Kshs1.9 trillion for Financial Year 2021/2022. 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": 1565498,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565498/?format=api",
"text_counter": 183,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I would like to also urge the National Assembly Committee of Finance and Budget to speed up on ensuring that the last audited and approved financial reports are as recent as the financial year 2023/2024. We are already in 2025. The issue of lagging behind and not approving the audited reports is not good. The national Government share is at Kshs2.2 trillion. This is where we say the county government share should be at Kshs465 billion. Equalization fund is something that the Office of the National Treasury is aware of these figures. They are not disputing these figures amounting to Kshs9.6 billion and the equalization areas at Kshs2.7 billion. Every time they have appeared, they have confirmed that these monies will be put in the budget. It is a high time we also close on this issue of the equalization fund because time is not on our side. The duration was to be 20 years and it is almost lapsing. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it was clear that the projects that had started need to be completed. However, how are they going to be completed without funding? The issue of equalization funds is an issue that the National Treasury needs to sort out completely. I urge colleagues to support understanding where we are coming from as a Committee. The stakeholders that I mentioned earlier, are very experienced and we have walked journey with. They understand where we are coming from. I also want to challenge the governors. Can we see your own source revenue? Can we see what you are collecting? Is it upwards or downwards? Is it standard? We need to see the projection of the own source revenue. With the proposal of the Kshs465 billion, I know we shall go for mediation. I do not dispute. However, as much as that discussion would be in place, can we see improvement on your own source revenue? You should be more independent by now. I would like to remind our colleagues that we shall have our breakfast meeting on Thursday. The issue of the formula is a critical issue. I request that we all attend so that we can have this conversation. With anything above Kshs400 billion on executable share, we have ensured as a committee that no county will lose or get less. With those remarks, I would like to appreciate my colleagues from the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget and the Secretariat that we work closely with. I second and thank you."
},
{
"id": 1565499,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565499/?format=api",
"text_counter": 184,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Question proposed)"
},
{
"id": 1565500,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565500/?format=api",
"text_counter": 185,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kathuri",
"speaker_title": "The Deputy Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 13590,
"legal_name": "Murungi Kathuri",
"slug": "murungi-kathuri"
},
"content": " Proceed, Sen. Munyi Mundigi."
},
{
"id": 1565501,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1565501/?format=api",
"text_counter": 186,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Munyi Mundigi",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Asante, Bw, Naibu Spika. Mimi ninaunga mkono Mswada wa ugavi wa pesa katika kaunti na pia kwa national Government. Katika hiki kipindi ambacho tumekuwa hapa tangu mwaka 2022 counties zimekuwa na shida nyingi sana. Maseneta wamekuwa wakijaribu kuangalia vile pesa zinaweza kuenda katika kaunti zetu ili kusaidia. Lakini kumekuwa na shida kutoka kwa MPs, National Treasury na pia Serikali Kuu. Na hata magavana wamekuwa wakilia hata wakipatiwa pesa kiasi gani. 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."
}
]
}