Clerk, do we have quorum?

Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly, ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.

Clerk, do we now have Quorum?

Let us proceed with our Special Sitting. Kindly proceed to call the first Order.

Hon. Senators, I have a Communication to make relating to this Special Sitting of the Senate. 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.

On the request of the Senate Majority Leader, vide letter Ref. No.SEN/MLS/CORR (01), dated the 19th of March, 2025, and with the support of the requisite number of Senators, I appointed today, Thursday, the 27th March, 2025, as a day for the Special Sitting of the Senate. The appointment was made vide Kenya Gazette Notice No.3463, dated 21st of March, 2025. In the Gazette notice, I indicated that the business to be transacted at this Special Sitting shall be as follows- (1) Consideration of the County Government's Additional Allocation Bill (Senate Bill No.1 of 2025). (2) Consideration of the reports of the Select Committee on County Public Accounts, on its consideration of the Reports of the Auditor-General, on the Financial Statements for the Financial Year 2023/2024. (3) Consideration of the reports of the Select Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee on its consideration of the reports of the Auditor-General on the financial statements for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Hon. Senators, in accordance with Standing Order 33(5), the business specified in the Gazette Notice referred to above, and as outlined in the Order Paper, shall be the only business before the Senate during the Special Sitting, following which, the Senate shall stand adjourned until Tuesday, the 1st April, 2025 at 2.30 p.m., pursuant to the Senate Calendar. I thank you. Clerk, please, proceed to call the next Order. Hon. Senators, for convenience of the House, allow me to arrange today's Order Paper. We will come back to Order Nos.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, after we have done Order Nos.12 and 13. So, Clerk, proceed to call that Order. The Chairperson, Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, please, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am not the Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee. Nonetheless, I will handle this Bill on his behalf. I am told the Committee is concluding on this report, and probably by the time I finish moving, they will have the report in the House or at least circulated on our online platforms for Members to read and comment on. I beg to Move- THAT, the County Government's Additional Allocations Bill 2025, be now read a second time. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Bill is long overdue, and it is an embarrassment of monumental proportions that it has taken this long to agree on something so obvious and 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.

rather straightforward to us here in the Senate, yet, for reasons well known to all of us, a push-pull between our colleagues in the National Assembly and us has brought us to March, actually April, because this is the last week of March, which is the last quarter of the financial year that counties are now going to receive funds that otherwise they should have received as early as July 1st, 2024. This is not what our Constitution intended when we drafted the Ornaments of Devolution. It was envisioned that funds would be released in a timely manner, that we would agree on basic issues, and that we would get our counties up and running. In fact, I am saying this because I wish to lay a basis for many of our colleagues to understand why we are here. Then I will speak broadly on this Bill. I will allow the Whip, who is a member of the Finance and Budget Committee, to perhaps get into the deeper details. There is a history of how we started doing this Bill. I served on the Finance and Budget Committee. In fact, in the last few weeks, governors, those who understand the operations between us and the National Assembly better, have been calling and texting, asking if we can revert to the old system. I have had occurrences where I have met leaders and governors who probably have served here in the Senate. They understand this unique yet difficult relationship that we have to exist with our colleagues from the National Assembly, who do not necessarily sometimes share the same sentiments, as us, on matters of devolution. Previously, all these allocations used to come under the division of revenue, and we would consider one Bill, and that would be the end of business. Unfortunately, we observed a trend where the National Treasury would additionally send resources, either through grants, donations, or loans, to various counties without following a particular order. By as late as 2017 and 2018, it was clear that some counties were benefiting more than others. You will find that we have completed the division of revenue and followed the formula set out by the Senate. Additionally, there would be projects that would come up. Let us say the projects that are now listed here – you have been a governor, you know this, under the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme, and the rest. The National Treasury will haphazardly make the decision and say, "We will put some to Nyamira, others to--- I do not know which county,” to the exclusion of others. We felt this was not the proper format for rolling out devolution in our country and that is how this Bill of the county government's additional allocations, came about. We never imagined, though, that that decision that was made in the best interest of our counties to ensure that equity reigns supreme, as the demands of our Constitution expect of us, as a House of equity, will later be used to undermine devolution. It is quite unfortunate that it has taken inordinately long for there to be an agreement, especially in a context where the Senate is a bystander. Of course, unless you are a stranger in this House, you know that the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) has caused this delay. Where we cannot agree, and Bills are moved, sometimes decisions are made without even consultation with the Senate. Therefore, it gets stuck. 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.

There is one delay after another. Before you know it, we are on the 26th or 27th of March, like today, without having considered this particular Bill. Therefore, I want to request that we expedite now that there seems to be some headway. I want to appreciate the diligence of the Finance and Budget Committee, which has quickly considered this Bill. The only part where you have failed, Sen. Onyonka, Sen. Boni, and the rest of the team, is that because you knew you were coming here today and this was an extremely important business, perhaps you would have furnished us with the Report. Even I, as Majority Leader, move the Bill without benefiting from your wisdom as a Committee. I know you will share it, perhaps before Members comment, but I would not have had the opportunity, maybe, unless during the reply. I know the finer details of any Bill are always gotten from the reports of the Committee and the Members who serve in those Committees. Diligently listen to the stakeholders and guide the House into making a decision that is in the best interest of devolution. Be that as it may, I am glad that the Senate is making this rather informed decision to ensure that, pursuant to Article 202(2), we are providing a process through which additional allocations for this Financial Year of 2024-2025 find their way to the county. This is not a small amount, and I will rely on the wisdom of the Committee Members. To the best of my recollection, we are talking about in excess of Kshs60 billion. I am not sure of this figure. When the Whip, Sen. Onyonka, or any Member of Finance and Budget Committee will be speaking, they will tell us whether it is Kshs56 billion. So it is close to Kshs60 billion that needs to go to our counties. Even if we were to pass the Bill as urgently as possible and have it concluded, expecting that counties will absorb those funds, knowing well the processes of Government funding, is too much of a push on the part of counties. Unfortunately, some of these donor-funded projects are time-bound. If it gets to the end of this financial year, then the loan expires, and you have to renew the instruments. Therefore, it is an untidy situation. I hope that this never happens again. I do not recall a time when we have moved Bill for funding to counties this late into the financial year. Unless my memory is failing me, to the best of my knowledge, this is the latest it has ever gotten to. It is really unfortunate. So what are some of these schedules of funds that we are talking about and the conditional allocations that are being granted to each county from the national Government share of revenue? They include funds that are so basic, such as the construction of a county headquarters, a programme that began in 2015, almost 10 years down the line. Even if you are constructing, surely, even if you are the contractor, by the time you finish the second floor, the ground floor has started wearing out. What sort of building have you been building for more than 10 years? I am happy that this is the last batch of funds that you are disbursing to these five counties that have suffered. I hope some were diligent enough to conclude using other resources or getting contractors with better abilities and resources, so that the buildings have been finished up and these funds only go to pay for work that has already been done. That is my prayer. However, I know that it may not necessarily be true. 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.

It also includes funds, or conditional allocations, to the county aggregation and industrial park programme as set out in column C. I still have a lot of questions about this programme. Members of the Finance and Budget Committee, perhaps, later in the year, once you are done with this budget-making cycle, it will be important that you follow through with your specific counties on what programmes your governors are laying out to ensure that these County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) are not white elephant programmes. This is a partnership of the Council of Governors in support of the national Government. We support this idea of trying to whip up local goods and produce from our farmers and ensure that there is an aggregation process and a place through which we can enhance their trade. However, in most counties — and this is where I speak from a position of knowledge — apart from the construction of the CAIPs, I do not see any concerted effort from the county governments to ensure that the produce is available. Otherwise, you will end up in a situation where a fancy building has been built in Taita- Taveta, Sen. Mwaruma, but then there is no local produce to take to those aggregation parks. There needs to be sensitization from county governments to ensure that, as expected and envisioned in the notes to this particular programme, the produce is available. What are you aggregating if you do not have those products in the first place? Where is the meeting held to speak to people to say, “Okay, in this particular area, we want to strengthen poultry, dairy, avocado or whatever farming?” As of now, the investment to the produce needs to be already happening, so that in another few months, when the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) are ready, the farmers and local cooperatives are ready with the produce. Unfortunately, unless there are governors who are more diligent than I know, then this is something that is of great concern to me.

On conditional allocation for Community Health Promoters (CHPs), this a big problem because there are many counties where CHPs continue to wait on this. The unfortunate bit is that you will find that CHPs have received their matching funds from the national Government, but counties are blamed that they have not paid CHPs. However, what would they have used to pay with? Here are the funds now. Today, once we pass the Conditional Allocation Bill, is when it will become possible for our counties to pay them.

We must make a decision, and the Committee on Finance and Budget must assist us to do so, on whether programmes such as this one of CAIPS and CHPs, that are in all the 47 counties, if there is need to budget these funds separate from Division of Revenue, especially having learnt from experience of what this additional allocation business has taught us this current financial year. Remember the history that I painted earlier on how we found ourselves doing this particular Bill. We just wanted to ensure that there is equity in programmes. The Senate needed to have visibility and ensure that if additional funds are going to counties, they are not skewed to benefit a few counties. However, on programmes such as the CHPs and CAIPS that are in all the 47 counties, it is my considered humble view, Sen. (Dr.) Boni Khalwale and all the Members of the Committee on Budget and Finance, that perhaps these are funds that we can include in DORA, such that once we have decided on how 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.

much is going to the counties, then there is no business of what we presently have, where CHPs are saying, “We have received the share from the national Government, but county governments are not paying.” We have to make a better decision.

There are also salary arrears for health workers in the county governments; no wonder they are always outside this Senate every other week. I have taken great concern. There is something that I am doing about it, as a leader and somebody passionate about devolution. We must be embarrassed. Apart from just the usual decisions that we make, many times, I see when people come to demonstrate here, Senators join them, and we say, “Oh, yeah, we are going to fight for your rights,” and that is the end of business. We must be a bit serious as leaders. You cannot be granted legislative powers and when people come to demonstrate, you join them and say, “We will think about it.” The following year, they come back again, you are still telling them, “We will do something about it.” Surely, we have to do something about the health workers in our counties. Apart from the funding model that is being proposed here in this particular Bill, there is just something that is not right in the architecture. We must celebrate what happened to the teachers and think along that particular line. When teachers ensure that they have a body that is representative at the national level and looks into all their affairs, in the form of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), we should have thought about something for the health workers as well. I do not want to speak longer than that. The funds that are listed for loans or grants from development partners are quite a number. There is the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), which is supporting primary health in developed contexts. There is the International Development Agency (IDA) and the Kenya Informal Sector Improvement Project (KISIP). Sen. Osotsi, I am not sure whether it is your Committee that looks into these particular specially allocated funds because if there are funds that have been wasted in our county governments, it is this programme. I do not know whether it is the way that it was designed, but the one where county governments are doing something in partnership with the national Government on the informal sectors. Apart from Cabro and the small works that are being done there, looking into the amounts that are being committed and the work that is being done is something that we expect your Committee to lead us. Of course, there is even money for the financial emergency of the locust response project. I remember there was a conversation about it. Financing Locally Led Climate Action Programme (FLLOCA), which is a locally-led action on county climate resilience investment, this one, at least, is a grant, but it does not mean that even if it is a grant, it is money that should be wasted. It should be used prudently. It is a grant to the people of our counties and, therefore, should be used fairly well. There is this other one of the national agriculture value chain development produce. This is what I was talking about earlier, Sen. Mwaruma, that should be the complement of the CAIPS. This programme should help our farmers at a local level begin to generate sufficient produce that will be aggregated into the CAIPS. However, so long as there is no correlation and people are just obsessed with who becomes a contractor of these projects or who does the sheds--- We live in a very funny country. 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.

We must begin to move. If this money must be wasted and unfortunately, I have to say this, then I would rather it be wasted by ordinary citizens as opposed to allocating funds to people who will only be obsessed with building sheds and structures and moving out of that particular place without any direct benefit to the ordinary citizens. On these special funds, we must ask for a project implementation report, how they were eventually used and what has been their success. The unfortunate bit is that they have very funny long names. So, to keep track is not easy. Even you, as a Senator, will get easily confused, because you will be told this one is for the KISIP, the other one is for FLLOCA, and another one with a difficult name is for agriculture. To keep track of all the funding that ends up in our county governments and the expected impact on the lives of ordinary citizens is something that bothers us.

Finally, the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP) is set out in Column (j). There is a listing of how much is going to every county. Then there are other things about the Cabinet Secretary publishing, by the 15th day of each subsequent month, a monthly report on actual transfers of disbursed additional allocations to county governments. This one we did as well in the DORA. Then last, and perhaps the last thing that I would like to say, is that the county treasury shall include the consolidated quarterly and annual reports that include the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, which is an actual transfer from the national Government, the expenditures and their compliance with the provisions of the Act. This is a very important report that we expect.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the listing is there of how much is going to each county, and this is as the Bill came. I want to believe that our colleagues from the Committee on Finance and Budget will guide us on what additional amendments they are proposing to the House. Even without seeing the amendments, I already support their position, because I am aware of some of the proposals that have been made there. With those very many remarks, I request the Whip of the Majority side, who is a Member of the Finance and Budget Committee, to second and help us understand better, even more salient issues that perhaps I may have missed in my moving notes.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Debates keep on raging in this country on who is the actual enemy of devolution. It is not too clear, but I am starting to think that Senators, governors and Members of the National Assembly are actually enemies of devolution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Members of the National Assembly are enemies of devolution, including myself. I say this with maximum respect because the object of this Bill is a simple thing - to provide a tool to transfer additional funds from the national Government to the devolved governments in accordance with the recommendation of the Constitution. So, the process was done as you will remember and at its tail end, the recommendations which came from the first enemy - Members of the National Assembly - then disagreed with us. So, we sat and disagreed with them, then created a mediation committee. When you sent us to that mediation committee, we were shown the middle finger. To hell with it. This is the reason why we are now dealing with this business at the end of the financial year. 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.

The donors must be thinking we are mad people. What has happened is that the borrowed money has left the respective banks of those countries. The money is with the National Treasury. Those countries are already charging interest. However, the money is at the National Treasury because Senators and Members of the National Assembly cannot agree; and governors and Members of the National Assembly are quarrelling. Do we really want devolution to succeed? Sen. Osotsi is here, he is in this House. We were at an informal but important meeting yesterday. It brought together Senators, Members of the National Assembly, governors, Principal Secretaries and Cabinet Secretaries from a certain region of this country. When we were in that meeting, in his wisdom, Sen. Osotsi brought up this matter and was supported by the Governor of Busia County, Hon. (Dr.) Paul Otuoma. Do you know, shamelessly, the meeting almost went into disarray? Members of the National Assembly who were in attendance booed these two leaders in front of the President. We are not serious! As the Senate Majority Leader has told the country, the real reason is because Members of the National Assembly want to benefit from the contracts that will arise from these additional funds; some of them are contractors. Mr. Speaker, Sir, what do we do? If one of you is not doing any of these things, they say you are not woke, you are not up to it. If you are woke, you should be one of the people participating in those contracts, so that you look rich and live large. We are at a place where we have to speak to the soul of the nation and realize that this country will succeed or fail depending on us. The gist of this resolution if we pass it, is that the counties will now access a whooping Kshs50.5 billion; it is there. If we just pass it today, counties will access Kshs50.5 billion. Why would a Member of the National Assembly not support that money going to the county where he comes from and yet all counties are benefiting? The Senate Leader of Majority, the National Assembly Leader of Majority and the presidency, you must bring the leaders together so that we stop this nonsense. Members of Parliament are the ones delaying this because they want to do business. So, what have we done? We have created four schedules. We have made it easy, and you will see it. We want to apologize for not having tabled the report by now. We just finished a few minutes ago. In the First Schedule, we have put Kshs7.5 billion, which is the Additional Allocations that come from the national Government as a share of revenue raised nationally. I will go into specifics. Then in the Second Schedule, we have made it easy. We have brought and segregated the Kshs10.5 billion that governors and MPs are fighting over; the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF). We have created a second schedule for clarity. In the Third Schedule, we have put money that is realized from court fines that are collected at various points where we have courts in the counties. In the final schedule, we have then created a schedule showing the loans and grants. Having simplified it that way, we have taken the first important step, which we are asking this House to support this morning, namely, we have removed from the Bill 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.

any mention of that thing, Road Maintenance Levy Fund; it is a debate that cannot end. We have removed it completely from the Bill until the courts have made a decision. This is because, if you do anything here, it brings in the long story of sub judice and so on. So, we have put it aside completely, and then we have remained with those three schedules. So, these are the three schedules that I want to speak to for you to appreciate and pass it quickly this morning. In the First Schedule, the Kshs7.54 billion will go towards the construction of the stalled county headquarters in those five counties that you all know. The second one will go to the County Aggregated Industrial Parks (CAIPs). They are going to be undertaken in only 19 counties and this money has been enhanced by the National Treasury from Kshs2 billion to Kshs2.9 billion. Now, when you look at your schedule, your county might or might not benefit. Do not slow down the process by saying, Okay, my county has not benefited and therefore, I am not going to support it. It is because the National Treasury - and we have agreed with them as a Committee - has phased out this process because the money is not enough. It has phased out 18 counties, Phase 1, Phase 2, 18 counties and finally Phase 3, 11 counties. At the end of the phasing, everybody will have gotten the Kshs250 million meant for this. So, even if your county - like my Kakamega - is not benefiting, we still pass it. Then, of course, there is the issue of the Community Health Promoters (CHPs). It is in there with a salary of Kshs3.234 billion. The basic salary for county health workers is worth Kshs1.7 billion and the transfer of museums to these counties. The museum, under the Constitution, is supposed to have been devolved, but it was delayed. So, we are cleaning it up. In the Third Schedule, which is fines, it is up to Kshs116.092 million. We have decided to pass these fines “ shingo upande ” because it is not even clear to us. When the National Treasury just throws it at us that go and share out Kshs116 million, what is the authenticity of that figure? What tool do we have when money is being collected in Mombasa and taken to the Consolidated Fund? Now, when they declare to us: “Senate go and share it out” how do we know that the figure they declare is the actual one and that they did not collect more? It has created a window for theft of public funds and the Committee has this morning written to the Auditor-General to do an audit of these court fines because we believe that the money collected from court fines in Kenya for two financial years cannot be116 million; it surely must be more. So, we have been disturbed and we have ordered for that special audit. It will be done and we shall report to the House. The final schedule on grants and loans is the one that has the lion share of the amount of money. It is Kshs35.66 billion. I will not waste the time of the House by talking and describing all the loans; they are in the schedule you are going to see. Basically, that is where the biggest shame that the Leader of the Majority was speaking to is, that we are having money to develop the country and because of some personal interest, we are where we are. 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.

I, therefore, want to conclude in seconding this Motion by thanking the stakeholders and colleagues who enabled us to come up with this very comprehensive Report. We have tried to do a good job. In fact, today, we started at 7.00 a.m., we have just finished. We have done a good job. Where your county does not seem to be getting the best, please, just agree with us so that we can make progress. I thank all of you. With those remarks, I second.

Thank you very much. Hon. Senators, I will now proceed to propose the question.

The Floor is now open for debate. Hon. Sen. Sifuna, you have the Floor.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I will suffer the same incapacity as the Leader of Majority. We have not had the benefit of the Report of the Committee, but Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale has attempted to shed some light on what the Committee has done. First of all, allow me to comment on the question of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF). Mr. Speaker, Sir, our Constitution has set out everybody's job. Everybody's job is clear in the Constitution that certain classifications of road are going to be done by the county government, certain classifications are going to be done by national Government. I am very proud as the Secretary General (SG) of ODM that my party leader and my party has taken a position on this question of RMLF. We are solid believers and defenders of the Constitution and we believe in devolution. My party leader's position, which is my position, is that Members of the National Assembly have no business constructing roads. If they have a problem, the problem is not with Sifuna. I take my instructions from my boss, my party leader. As a Senator of Nairobi, I have been charged to ensure that we defend devolution at every turn. Even in that matter that is before the courts, I remember the Chair of the Council of Governors, who also happens to be from my party appeared before the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing and gave us a chronology of this fight. He indicated that they had tried to have conversations with the National Assembly, but those conversations never work. I remember when we were doing mediation on the Division of Revenue Bill, the Members of the National Assembly, in very condescending tones, were telling us that we, as the Senators, should go and tell the governors to withdraw the case in court on the RMLF. We, as the Senators, agreed with the Chair of the Council of Governors, that we want that matter to be resolved by the courts once and for all because the law is there, the Constitution is there. There is absolutely no reason we should be fighting about this. The most callous thing, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have never been a Member of the National Assembly and maybe one day, if I will be, maybe this, I do not want to use the word disease, but this attitude, may come over me. Somehow, they have dissected the populations, they know the people who belong to the national Government and the people who belong to the county governments. It does not matter what prejudice the people suffer, for as long as the National Assembly gets what it wants, then we can hold the 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.

entire thing I remember sitting here with those Members, I do not want to mention their names, but they know themselves. Mr. Speaker, Sir, they told us in no uncertain terms that if they do not get RMLF, we will not get Division of Revenue. I have told Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale's Committee the same thing; that, in fact, if they do not get these RMLF funds, they do not care whether CHPs are being paid. I am very happy that, as a Committee, you are able to distinguish these things, separate them and let that controversy over RMLF be resolved in the courts, in accordance with the law. It is very callous, even for the Members of the National Assembly, the 17 of them from Nairobi. I do not think that they would feel proud that CHPs, the 7,400 CHPs in Nairobi, can go without pay for all these months just because they want to continue to build roads. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want, therefore, to say that we hope that, that controversy is resolved. As people who understand the Constitution and people who understand devolution, we know that the Council of Governors and this Senate are on the right side. I do not think we are the enemies of devolution. We have stood very firm on the Floor of this House, in our committees and even when we were doing mediation on division of revenue, to make it very clear to the National Assembly that, first of all, we are not enemies of the National Assembly, we have an oath that we swore on this Constitution to defend county governments and their interests. If the Constitution says a certain role is to be executed by the devolved units, we have a responsibility to defend that position. So, when we say that it is our belief, both as a Senate, as a Senator of Nairobi, as SG of ODM, as a member of ODM, that RMLF should be fully devolved, the entire amount should go to the county governments, it is because that is what the law says. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if you look at the First Schedule, you will see that, for us in Nairobi, really, we were concerned with only two issues. Number one is, of course, the issue of the road maintenance levy. We have a budget of about Kshs390 million in the supplementary budget for 2024/2025 for maintenance of roads. Those of you who have been moving around our estates in Nairobi--- I can see the Deputy Speaker looking at me because he is not very happy with the situation of the roads in Nairobi. I am sure all of you have problems. You go to places in Kilimani, Eastleigh and everywhere, our roads are in a pathetic shape. We were hoping that this impasse is resolved because it is also acknowledged that we need the resources to do these roads. Therefore, we hope that it will be resolved as soon as possible. You can see on the First Schedule, we have the Kshs224 million, which is sufficient to cover the stipend of Kshs2,500 for 7,464 CHPs for 12 months. Then, there is an amount that has been allocated there for basic salary arrears for county government health workers. When the Majority Leader was here, he spoke about these health workers always showing up at our gate here. Last week, there was such an event, just before we broke for recess. You asked me and the Senator for Meru to go and speak to them. I was very happy that we are not just paying lip service. The Majority Leader was not here. We were very proud that as a House under the leadership of the 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.

Speaker, specific instructions were issued to the Committee on Health to bring all those stakeholders on board to that conversation. When I was speaking that day, I was not aware, that the Committee of Health of this House, that same day, had--- I remember seeing on the news that they gave certain deadlines to the Ministry to clear arrears of salaries for these county health workers and Universal Health Coverage workers. I want to tell the Senate Majority Leader that I am happy there are things we are doing, as a House, to assuage the situation. We are not just paying lip service. On the question of court fines, I know why Nairobi City County is blank. That is because there was an agreement with the Judiciary that they should give us back our county courts. Therefore, you might not find allocations of money out of court fines for Nairobi. However, I agree with Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale that there needs to be greater transparency in disclosures from the National Treasury on amounts of money that are collected in terms of court fines originating out of enforcement of county legislation. If you look across the country, you will note that Nairobi City County is notorious because many people are arrested on a daily basis for violation of bylaws. There is even hue and cry in the manner in which they are treated. If you go to the city court, even today, you will find that it is full of people who are being charged with various violations. It is true that we need greater disclosures from the National Treasury on these amounts. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I hope that we will have a view of the report in order for us to see how the other matters have been treated. I honestly believe it is unfair that we have kept counties awaiting these resources for such a long time because of a dispute amongst leaders. During the mediation on Division of Revenue Bill, we agreed on certain basic things. First, we said that there does not exist a Kenyan who belongs to the national Government and one who belongs to the county governments. Secondly, we said that if a bridge over a river collapses due to floods, the ordinary user of that bridge does not care who comes to repair it or the source of the funds that will be used to repair it. All they want is the bridge repaired. Therefore, as leaders, we should not have a situation where a standoff between the Council of Governors and the National Assembly results in such a situation. That includes the donor-funded projects. They should not stop. We cannot have them, for example, stop because of what is going on in the United States of America. This money is needed to support healthcare in our counties. With those many remarks, I support the Report of the Committee and hope there will be resolution on the remaining or pending matters to do with the Road Maintenance Levy Fund. I thank you, honourable Speaker.

Asante sana, Bw. Spika. Ningetaka kwanza kushukuru Kamati ya Fedha na Bajeti kwa kazi nzuri waliofanya. Ningependa kusema ya kwamba adui mkubwa wa ugatuzi ni wale walio katika Bunge la Kitaifa. Mswahili husema ya kwamba ukibebacho ukivuja, nafuu kwa mchukuzi. Uongozi wa Bunge la Kitaifa unafaa kumakinika na kuhakikisha ya kwamba hakuna vuta nikuvute tunapopitisha Mswada. Hii ni kwa sababu sisi ndio walinzi wa 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.

ugatuzi. Pesa ambazo zinaenda kwa kaunti hazikuji kwetu kama Maseneta. Pesa hizo zinaenda kufaidi Wakenya. Kwa hivyo, ningetaka kuwasuta kwa hilo na kuwaambia ya kwamba miwa ukipewa kibogoyo mzee kama zawadi, inakuwa ni matusi. Pesa tunazopitisha siku ya leo zimecheleweshwa kwa sababu ya vuta nikuvute ambayo haina maana. Tunafuraha kwa sababu maafisa ambao wanafanya kazi ngumu katika gatuzi zetu watapata pesa zao. Naona Kirinyaga wako na Shilingi 6,000,000. Hakukuwa na maana yoyote ya kuchelewa kulipa wafanyikazi hao kiwango hicho ilhali wanafanya kazi ngumu kule mashinani. Wengi wao wanaenda kazini wakitembea kama mawakala wa ng’ombe. Wengine hawana hata usafiri ya kuhakikisha kwamba afya inatunzwa kule mashinani. Mateso yao yalitokea kwa sababu ya jitihada ambazo zilifanywa na Wabunge wa Bunge la Kitaifa. Walichelewesha Mswada ambao tunapitisha hapa. Tumepewa kazi moja muhimu; kuwa walinzi wa ugatuzi. Lakini, mlinzi pia lazima apewe silaha. Bunge la Seneti limebweka ya kutosha. Wakati wa kuuma umefika. Tukifanya hivyo, watajua ya kwamba hata sisi sio vikaragosi na wanasesere wa siasa. Wanafaa kujua ya kwamba sisi ni Seneti na tuko na jukumu ambalo tumepewa na lazima tufanye. Kuna vile wanatuchukulia virahisi kama bei ya chumvi. Hii ni kwa sababu hao hupinga Mswada wowote ambao tumepeleka kule. Unatapa ya kwamba hata wale ambao hawajasoma wanaongea mitaani na kupinga ule Mswada. Lazima tufanye jitihada ili tueleweke na tuheshimike. Jambo la kushangaza sana ni kwamba vita vimekuja kwa sababu ya pesa ambazo zinafaa kwenda kuangalia maswala ya barabara mashinani. Hao wanajua ya kwamba kuna zile barabara ambazo zinashughulikiwa na Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) na zile ambazo zinashughulikiwa na kaunti zetu. Walitoa pesa ambazo zinafaa kwenda kuangalia masuala ya barabara na hatua hiyo imefanya barabara katika kaunti nyingi kukaa kama mahandaki. Hizo barabara zimechimbika kwa sababu hakuna pesa za kuzitengeneza. Leo, Seneta yeyote ambaye yuko hapa akikutana na gavana wake atapigwa pambaja kwa kazi nzuri. Hii ni kwa sababu tunapitisha pesa ambazo zitaenda mashinani ilhali kesho, tutakuwa maadui wa hao magavana ambao tunatetea siku ya leo. Utasikia wakisema ya kwamba, “anapiga kelele. Hajui kazi yake.” Leo tunajua kazi yetu ilhali kesho watasema ya kwamba hatujui kazi yetu. Tumebweka tukahakikisha ya kwamba magavana wamepata pesa na hivyo ndivyo tutabweka pesa zisipotumika visivyo. Ahsante.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. There was inevitable delay in the Report. The report which was done by the Committee is much better, and I hope my colleagues will receive it. That Report demarcates the schedules, the money from donor funding, conditional grants and all other monies that need to go to every county. Two, there is clarity of what every county has gotten from donor funding, the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme money, and all these other monies which have been in the programme. I thank the Senate Majority Leader for his comments. I also thank my friend, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, who woke up with me at seven o'clock in the morning to make sure that 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.

this Report is done. There is a problem on the dealing with the Road Maintenance Levy Fund. That is what has held us back until this time. Therefore, the decision to allow the courts determine for us this matter in finality makes sense. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have always asked, in this House, to be given the amounts every county is getting in figures. We have also been requesting to know the agencies where they are getting that money from in order for us to explain to our people what needs to be done. I am sure this House is aware that governors have already pronounced themselves. In fact, they gave us 14 days for this document to be tabled here for us to approve the money. The governors are our partners. We want them to succeed and we want to make sure that the funds are utilized well and effectively. However, we are beginning to feel that our governors are not giving us the best. If you look at the audit discussions that have been taking place for the last two weeks, you will realize that there is a lot of misappropriation, waste and misuse of public funds. You will note that the audits are not up to date. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am in a position to know about the audits. Last year, we did audits up to the Financial Year 2024/2025. We noted that there are about six counties whose books have never been audited for the last four years. That is what they are struggling with. We want to request our governors to use the money prudently. They should be responsible and reduce the political noise that we have in the county governments because Kenyans just want service delivery. Kenyans just want nothing else but to give them service delivery, make sure that we pay our nurses, doctors and teachers on time, and that capitation money for our schools and road construction arrives on time. Yesterday, I saw public debate as to why Kenyans are angry. I do not think Kenyans are angry. They just want service. University students want their money to be available for their education, teachers want their money for capitation to be available. Promote those who need to be promoted. We are not able to compensate and pay allowances to community health workers, yet they play a very critical role in making sure that services within our country and medical services are given first priority. My Party Leader, the Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Hon. Sifuna talk, has said clearly that, for the last three months we have been having members from the medical fraternity coming to the gates of the Senate to make noise because we are not paying and honouring their Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs). Some of these agreements were signed two or three years ago. So, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to say that, as a Committee, we appreciate the support that we have received from this House. The Committee team has worked diligently, and I would like to thank my Chairperson, Hon. Roba, who has really pushed us. While he was away, we have been having Hon. (Dr.) Khalwale with his experience and energy to hold in brief. We have presented to this House a report that is believable and factual. The money that has been given to every county has been stated, whether it is for health, agriculture or roads. The teams were looking at the figures and the amounts of 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.

consternation it was raising. There were many issues that we dealt with and felt that because we do not have time, there was no need for us to have disagreements in terms of what the numbers were and what they were not. I would like to remind many that, last year, there was a group of about 18 counties that were given money for the industrial parks and we waited. I am happy that Kisii County has also now been given the money for the industrial parks. I am also happy that the money which was allocated for cancer as a special project has also been allocated. So, I am positive and hopeful that we will continue working hard in this House, and standing our ground. I am happy that many Senators in this House, are now seized of the fact that we must be the people who are going to defend devolution. We must be the people who are going to make sure that when the money goes to the county governments, it does the service that it is supposed to do so that Kenyans can begin to be happy and see that we are actually moving the country forward. I am happy that the amount is about Kshs50 billion, which is not small money. I believe that we will be able to finish the county aggregation and industrial parks. There many issues coming. I want to raise an issue, before I forget. Hon. (Dr.) Khalwale, we need to engage our colleagues in the National Assembly to realize that they have to make a decision whether they are going to become the ‘tenderpreneurs’ in Government projects and deals, or whether they are going to serve the public in making sure that the money arrives at the county governments and their constituencies. There is a lot going on in our counties and sub-counties. My honest observation is that we need to become prudent and leaders who believe that the public expectation is higher, and deliver services to our people. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you heard Hon. Khalwale mention that, yes, fines are collected by the courts, and then these fines are supposed to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund. For the last three years that we have been looking at these figures, we have never heard anybody say whether there was an audit done on these fines, or the money is still being domesticated at the Judiciary, or whether it was transferred to the Consolidated Fund and re-budgeted for other purposes. I believe this would be a good call, because even if this money may not be so much, any money right now is needed in our Republic. I hope that we will continue to make sure that we maintain prudency and dignity in making sure that our resources are utilized effectively, fairly, equitably and prudently. I would like to also engage and explain to my colleagues in this House that, we have been analyzing and conducting analysis of audit reports from various county governments. We need to start asking ourselves, what are the recommendations that this House will be making? Some of those reports are going to be tabled today. What recommendations are we making to try and, if anything, act as deterrence? Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am sure yesterday, you saw in the media, where we are being told how certain billions of shillings are being misappropriated by certain county governments, and certain services are not being provided. What then are we doing about it? How are we going to make sure that some of these mistakes are not repeated? It looks like it is over, and over, and over again. We need to engage in this. I would wish that my 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.

colleagues deeply look through, particularly this Senate. It is your responsibility to try and save the county governments, because they are in trouble. Finally, we need to come up and solve this problem where all governors are saying, and indeed they are correct, that there is always late disbursement of funds from the Exchequer. That matter must be sorted out. Any time you delay payments of a trader or a business person who was a supplier, naturally, you understand what that means. It means that his loans are either not going to be serviced, and some of these people have been auctioned. In several counties, some of these contractors have died. Governors are no longer paying pending bills, because they are paying their friends and the companies that they are using to do business for themselves. So, we are really in a catch-22 situation. However, I believe that this Senate has the capacity to come up with good laws and make sure that such Bills, like this one, will go a long way in making sure that we move our country ahead. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I support this Bill and hope that it will be expedited immediately, so that the money can be sent to the county governments. Thank you.

Hon. Senators, for clarity and to guide the debate, we are on the Second Reading of the Bill. Therefore, your debate should be based on the Bill as opposed to a report. The few Senators who have contributed have actually not gone into the Bill itself. So, kindly base your comments on the Bill, because we are debating a Bill that has come for the Second Reading. Sen. Kathuri, please proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to comment on this important Bill touching on the core nerve of our work to make sure that devolution works in this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Bill is making provisions for the transfer of conditional allocations from the national Government's share of revenue and from Government partners. As you have guided, we are supposed to look into the content of the Bill. First of all, I would like to make a concern that these disbursements are coming towards the end of the financial year. We are entering the fourth quarter next month, and we have really delayed the counties from spending this money on the people that we represent. All the same, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to comment on the county aggregations and industrial parks, where 19 counties are benefiting from this Fund. If we go by whether the counties have also matched this amount, because the counties were to give out Kshs250 million, and then the national Government was to give Kshs250 million to make it Kshs500 million. So, how far have these 19 counties are in reference to this amount? I remember being in one of the programmes on Meru FM this week. One of my constituents asked me how much was spent on that county aggregation project. I had committed to counter-checking what had come from the national Government and what had been contributed by the County Government of Meru for at least two weeks. The report states that we are at 80 per cent so far. I was wondering whether all this money has been submitted or committed to the project. If you see that we have 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.

Kshs105 million, then it means that the project can be almost done. If all the other monies were released, we should be at almost 75 per cent. Another issue is the Community Health Promoters (CHPs). My colleague, the Senator for Nairobi City County, is well-spoken. You sent us to talk to the CHPs when they camped at the Senate gate. I am happy that you committed the Committee on Health to work on this matter. After recess, we will learn about the progress made by the Chairperson of the Committee on Health. It is disheartening that citizens of this country, especially the youth, can work for us, their parents and the rest of the Kenyan population. However, they do not get the money that they are supposed to earn from their sweat. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am happy that once we resolve this matter, the money will be transmitted to the county governments, so that they can also be paid. Are the county governments honouring part of the bargain? The arrangement is that county governments share with the national Government a ratio of 50-50. My concern is also whether the counties match this money so that the CHPs can get their allocation. The elephant in this Bill is this schedule for the RMLF. When I served in the National Assembly, where Sen. Sifuna does not know what happen, there was an allocation for Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). Also, there was an allocation for county roads. To me, how the National Assembly, in the 13th Parliament, has decided not to release this money to the county governments is a shock. I remember 10 per cent of this fund was going to the counties because we have county roads. The road going to my house is a county road. As I speak, it is dilapidated. It is from the highway, which is under Class B under KeNHA and cannot be funded by KeNHA. If this money cannot reach the counties, then I will never get to my house after these rains. This should be the first priority. Even though we do not direct the courts on what to do, this is a matter of national interest. I wish our courts could really decide on this matter, once and for all, so that this money can go to the counties to make our roads. When Members of Parliament start this, I want to use parliamentary language as much as possible. When they make these decisions, they look at their benefits, not the entire picture. An allocation of Kshs284 million should go to Meru County. Since we have nine constituencies, each can benefit from approximately Kshs30 million. This is good money for upgrading those roads because you need just to grade and gravel. The National Assembly should stop derailing devolution. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale said we have three enemies of devolution; the National Assembly, the Senate and the county governments themselves. I want to exonerate myself from his statement. I am a true defender of devolution. When matters touching on devolution, especially on Meru County, come to this floor or even outside this Floor, I am the first defender. My colleagues know my position. When I decided Meru County should work, I meant it. I usually do the best I can so that I see or feel that Meru is working. I am a happy person. Mr. Speaker, Sir, even though you were taken to court, I want to thank you for one minute. When as the Speaker of the Senate, there was a petition to the High Court, I 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.

want to thank you for standing your ground. You said that once a governor is impeached, he should remain impeached. I want to thank your office and also the Clerk’s office. The Senate put a lot of effort into this matter. It has now been respected. Let me tell you for free, hon. Senators. This is because the decision that the Senate made has been upheld. Therefore, when I sometimes see Senators try to play around with some decisions made by the Senate, I really feel for us because our House should be respected. This is what has exactly happened. I do not want to use a lot of time. Even though they have removed this RMLF, in future, the Committee must also try to see how such matters can be cleared as soon as possible to have this money sent to counties. Mr. Speaker, Sir, for instance, if we have Kshs10 billion lying in the National Treasury and it cannot go to roads in the counties through KeRRA or KeNHA, then the leadership of both Houses should discuss some of these national issues and conclude, so that we do not delay the development of our country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Wambua, proceed.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. From the onset, I stand in support of the County Government's Additional Allocations Bill, 2025. As I support it, allow me to do two things. First, I want to wish you a quick recovery. I see you are battling the flu, but all is well. I also want to take this opportunity to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters Eid Mubarak as they continue to observe this Holy Month of Ramadan. I know I have a deal with the Muslim fraternity in Kitui, especially in Mwingi Town, and it shall be done. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the Committee on Finance and Budget ably led by the Senator for Mandera, Sen. Ali Ibrahim Roba, for coming up with this Bill at such a time as this. While seconding the Bill, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, who may be carried by emotions, enlisted himself and all of us as enemies of devolution. Since this is a House of Records, I hope when he next gets a chance to speak on any matter; he retracts that record from the HANSARD. This is because he has spoken contrary to the provisions of Article 96 of the Constitution. He has gone on record saying that the House charged with the responsibility of protecting devolution is the House against whom devolution should be protected. As I said, when he gets a chance, let him remove that record from the HANSARD.

Having said that, I want to go to the First Schedule of the Bill. It is common knowledge that Column B of the First Schedule lists the allocation for the construction of county headquarters. That column should contain five counties. Nyandarua is one of those counties that should benefit from that special allocation for the construction of county headquarters. However, I see the figures for Nyandarua dropped. I believe that Senators will pass this Bill. As such, that should be the first amendment to the Bill, to include the figures for Nyandarua. What is captured here is for the other four counties, including Lamu, Isiolo, Tana River and Tharaka-Nithi.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to spend a bit of time on Column C on the CAIPs programme. Even if I am the least qualified to speak about the Government agenda on development, especially on manufacturing in the Bottom Up Transformative Agenda 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.

(BETA). However, I believe that these CAIPs speak to that policy. The realization that industrial development is the cornerstone to development in every country for developing countries. The newly industrialised countries with economies under transition and even for the developed world, industrialization is a cornerstone to development. In the wisdom of this administration or the National Treasury, 19 counties were identified to be beneficiaries of the initial allocation of the Kshs250 million from the national Government. These 19 county assemblies are supposed to pass budgets to match that allocation to bring it to a total of Kshs500 million. The criteria for choosing the 19 counties, I think is a discretion that none of us would put a finger to. Mr. Speaker, Sir, be that as it may, there are a number of counties in phase one that have received allocations from the national Government to construct industrial parks. Yes, they have identified the land and started construction. However, that is as far as the story goes. Things have stalled. There is no conversation around the issue any more. So, the auditors and it is their right to do what they are doing, are capturing that as part of stalled projects forming part of the many white elephant projects that we have all over the country.

Today, the Senator of Kitui County will be making announcements or pronouncements that will shock the Governor of Kitui County. I stand here to congratulate the Governor of Kitui County Governor, Dr. Julius Malombe. Kitui County is not part of the counties in phase one to receive the Kshs250 million from the national Government. However, the County Assembly of Kitui, I want to congratulate the Speaker of the County Assembly of Kitui, Hon. Kevin Kinengo and his team of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), for passing the county portion of this allocation. The County Government, both the Executive and the Assembly, have gone ahead to identify the land on which the CAIP for Kitui will be established. In fact, they have gone a step forward and decided that the area will be the Kitui Industrial Area. So, they have allocated more land for purposes of future investments.

As I speak today, that project Kanyoonyo of Kitui Rural Constituency, is almost now 50 per cent done using county funds. However, there are county governments and I see there are Senators here and I would not mention them, that have been allocated money under phase one, but they have not used half of that money. The question that we should be asking ourselves is if there are counties that seem to appreciate the importance of these industrial parks and their impact on the county economies, recruitment and employment of our youths and they have not been included in phase one of the counties benefiting from these allocation, be included. We should also ask ourselves why those counties not fast track to get the allocations, complete these projects and within the time of this administration, before the elections because only God knows what will happen after the elections. The administration that has started these parks within their first term, can at least see the fruits and the benefits of the parks in counties where work seems to be happening.

Why continue allocating monies to counties in phase one that are not moving an inch yet there are counties categorized under phase two, which have done so much and they just need the final push to complete the parks and make them operational? 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.

Those Senators are here and they are looking at me. I will not mention their names. I invite them and their governors to come to Kanyoonyo in Kitui Rural Constituency to benchmark and see what needs to be done for these parks. Truth be told, if these industrial parks are properly rolled out, they will change the economies of our counties and even be sources of county own revenue. This is because of levies and taxes that will be realized from those parks. That is what I wanted to say about the CAIPS.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the allocation is for counties categorised as phase one. I urge the decision makers on this allocation to see to it that they fast track those counties that are already doing things on the ground using their own portion of the money, so that they can get the balance and complete these projects. For example, Kitui County should be the first under that consideration. ` Having said many good things about the County Government of Kitui and the Governor, I must also remind him because it is important that I do so. This information that I am communicating to the Senate and to the country today in defense of my county is that I am struggling to get from officers in the county government yet it is very good information that we can use to showcase our county and put it on the national platform for good reasons.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would ask my Governor, hon. Malombe, to communicate better and to be more accessible, especially to the Senator. When I seek to speak to the governor, I do not want anything personal. It is just about us working and making sure that things move in the right direction for the benefit of the people that we represent. I know I am as passionate about Kitui County as you are about Meru County. You said that when you begin doing these things, you make sure that things happen and I know what you mean. The next column which is very important is Column D on the allocations to CHPs. I do not want to speak for the other Senators because they will have an opportunity to speak for themselves and their counties. Let me speak about CHP allocations in respect of Kitui County. If there is a cadre of staff that needs serious attention and serious facilitation, it is the CHPs because they are our first line of defence in terms of health. These are the people that when there are issues in the middle of the night in remote villages, patients and families run to for assistance and first aid. Yet important as they are, they are the most neglected lot in the health sector. I speak with pain about CHPs because last Friday, I was with a number of them from Kitui County. By God's grace, I run a foundation called Kiio Wambua Foundation that carries out medical camps across the county. On Friday, we were at Kawii Ward in Kitui West Constituency where we attended to over 1,300 patients being assisted by 50 CHPs. These people are suffering because they have not been paid their money for many 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.

months. It is not even pay, because how do you call Kshs2,500 a pay? They have not earned their little stipend. Can I appeal to the wisdom of this House and that of the committee, led by the very able Senator from Mandera County, to engage with their counterparts in the National Assembly and the National Treasury and see what we can do to compensate and facilitate CHPs better? If we can facilitate CHPs better and in good time, then a lot of the common ailments that we struggle with will be a thing of the past. They help the elderly to access medication for high blood pressure and diabetes. They advise them on basic hygiene and nutrition. Therefore, if we facilitate them better, then perhaps we will lessen the workload of our doctors, nurses and clinicians. I see that Kitui County has been allocated Kshs74 million for CHPs. We could do much better. For now, we will take it and we thank the committee for that. Lastly, I wish I could know how much time I have left. Two minutes. Let me try and speak briefly within those two minutes. If I am not able to finish, I will request that you give me one minute. However, I should be able to complete within that time. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to mention this thing about the RMLF. After Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale comes and cleans up the HANSARD, then let it go on record that the greatest enemies of devolution in this country are members of the National Assembly. That should remain in the HANSARD for the rest of our lives. For now, as I speak, the greatest enemy of devolution in this country is the National Assembly. When you want to stop allocations of monies going to county roads, monies that are accrued from the fund that is established by an Act of Parliament; simply because you want all the money to come to you so that you are the alpha and the omega in making decisions on which laws will be made and which laws will not be made. Let us call it as it is. It is not that the Members of the National Assembly want to repair and maintain roads. It is that they want to control the funds so that they issue the contracts and tenders to their friends, wives, girlfriends and boyfriends. That is exactly what they want to do. I have looked at this schedule. For the County of Kitui, we are supposed to give the Governor Kshs445 million to maintain county roads, but the Members of the National Assembly want all that money to be given to them. For as long as I remain the Senator of Kitui County, my foot will remain on the ground for Kshs445 million going to the County Government of Kitui for maintenance of county roads. There is this argument that when the money goes to the counties, oh, it is stolen, I do not know what happens. If a governor misappropriates funds, take him to court and charge him with---

Please, give him just 30 seconds to conclude.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. We will not stop there. There is an adjustment that was done last year, in July, on the fuel levy, from Kshs18 to 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.

Kshs25. Now the Cabinet Secretary in charge of roads in the national Government wants to use the entire Kshs7 per litre of fuel to pay pending bills, totalling to Kshs175 billion, without consideration of the roads in the counties. We are saying that a percentage of that Kshs7 per litre must go to counties for the maintenance of county roads. I want to urge my colleagues that when it comes to matters of devolution, that is why we are said to be champions and defenders of it. The best way of killing devolution is to deny county governments money to carry out devolved functions. On the matter of roads, let us stick to what we believe is true and right and ensure that we give sufficient monies to our counties to maintain county roads. With those many remarks, I support.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to thank the committee led by my friend, Sen. Ali Roba, for this Bill. Similarly, I take this opportunity to add on what the Senator of Kitui County has just said. I want to start with the Second Schedule on the Road Maintenance Levy. I sit in the Committee on Roads with the Senator Wambua. The Cabinet Secretary came before our committee and told us that he has Kshs 7 per litre added on fuel levy and he was going to use it for offsetting pending bills. If I am not wrong, the collection is about Kshs75 million every year. Surprisingly, he is discounting that money six years in advance. That means, he will borrow money or ask an investor to collect it on behalf of the Government, but pay it in advance so that he can settle pending bills. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to support what my colleague has just said. If they will use the Kshs7 at least half of it should go to counties. We had an opportunity to have a county governor who is in charge of roads. I think it is Governor of Kiambu County, before our committee one time. He said that they have thousands and thousands of kilometres of roads in their counties that are not being managed by the counties because they do not have funds. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if today the Cabinet Secretary wants to take the Kshs7 and the Kshs15 and the National Assembly wants to take it and control the roads in the counties, then why is the Senate here? What are we doing? We are supposed to support and protect devolution. Article 96(1) says very clearly that this Senate serves to protect the interest of the counties. In that case, if we allow the national Government, I do not want to use the language that was used by my friend, the issue of girlfriends and women. The work of the National Assembly under Article 95(4)(b) is to appropriate funds. It is not to turn into contractors. Similarly, Article 95(5)(b) is very clear on the job of National Assembly, which is to exercise oversight. How can they oversight funds and at the same time manage the same? That will not work. Yes, we have a problem in the counties, but that does not mean that because of mismanagement of county resources, we will divert monies from the county governments to National Assembly. Let me take you back to First Schedule which talks about conditional allocation for the construction of county headquarters. We, the committee in charge of devolution, 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.

chaired by my friend, Senator for Wajir, Sen. Abass, went to Lamu. We found that the county has done some construction work and they have not finished. If you look at where the construction is now, they would need millions of money to finish. So, what is the purpose of sending money to the counties and you do not finish your projects? Two weeks ago, we went to Lodwar in Turkana County. There is a park called Biashara Park, a three-storeyed building, but not finished. It consumed millions and millions of monies. There are projects that are not complete. They were funded by the national Government and the county government. Some were funded by the county government only. As a Senate, specifically the devolution committee, should visit counties and see projects that are not finished. They should call the governors and ask them when they will finish them. Let them give us timeline. Let me take you back to the First Schedule, which is conditional allocation for the community health workers. If you go to hospitals and health centres in rural areas, specifically places like Marsabit, Turkana, Wajir, Mandera and even Kitui, health workers are working under inhumane conditions. It is time that we equip them. The issue of salaries can come later, but they must be fully equipped. In some instances, even gloves are not there. You find some of them putting on plastic. This is not fair. So, on the issue of health promoters, first of all, the conditions they are working under should be conducive. Number two, delay in payment. Their salaries, or whatever they are being paid, should be paid in time. I also want to take you to the Third Schedule on the issue of court fines. I have seen 10 counties receiving money collected from the fines. What I want to know is what other Senators have said. Other Senators are saying accountability for these funds should be open and be scrutinized, so that we know how much money is being received and how much is given to counties. Why is this money given to only 10 counties? I do not know the reason, but somebody should tell me. Finally, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the problem the National Assembly is trying to put forward is that the counties are corrupt and are not managing their resources very well. Yes, we have a problem, but the problem in the counties are supposed to be managed and oversighted by this House. The money is budgeted. You will find that people will go for public participation. The community will say what they want. The budget will be undertaken. After that budget is undertaken, there will be another budget, which is called supplementary budget. Once they bring that budget, you will find that what the people asked for is not there. It is removed. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, what this House needs to do is to follow each county, what budget they put forward and what is in the public participation; what the people asked for. After knowing what the people have asked for and the budget has been dealt with, we need to know what is on the ground. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have 47 counties. I want to challenge my friends here. Please, look at the budget on paper then go to your counties and see if the work has been done or even started. You will find that most of the works have not been done and others are not complete. 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.

When we support and pass this budget, we think we are supporting the governors. Yes, we need to support the governors, but we need also to support our people. We are not supporting an individual, but communities. If you really care about your community, where you come from, please visit your counties. You should go to the wards and see the project that has been initiated, the ones that have been completed and what has not been completed. With that, you will know the exact situation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I live in Karen and the road going to my house is called Ndege Road, then there is a rough road called Korongo Road which is about 1.1 km long. A contractor put some stones on that road and has not finished constructing it. It takes me about two minutes to drive from Karen Shopping Centre to Korongo Road. I then take about 10 to 15 minutes to move from Ndege Road to Korongo Road. Why does this happen? It is because the monies that are supposed to go to the counties are not there. This is because Kshs7 has been taken by the national Government and our friends, our brothers and sisters, at the National Assembly, want to take Kshs15. That is unacceptable. If the money for Marsabit does not go to Marsabit County, I will go to court to stop the National Assembly from taking that money from the counties. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Next is Sen. Mumma.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity to contribute to this Bill. This is the easiest Bill to pass because it is about passing funds that have already been negotiated. Properly speaking, this is a Bill that should have passed ages ago. We have delayed for eight months because of the pull and push and the ego of the National Assembly. I was a Member of the Mediation Committee on the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (Senate Bills No.19 of 2024). It is unfortunate that we could not discuss anything coherently because we were being blackmailed. We were asked to speak to the governors to withdraw the case on Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) or there would be no discussion at all. We tried to bring it to the attention of Members of the National Assembly that what they were doing was not only undermining the people of Kenya, but it was also undermining the Government programme.

Those of you in Kenya-Kwanza Government know that the bottom-up economic transformation agenda is seriously undermined by this delay. I see that the Senate Majority Leader is not here. When you look at the First Schedule, you will notice that it is about additional allocations from national Government revenues. This is actually about implementing projects and programmes that are within national Government development agenda. Some of these include what was promised in the bottom-up economic transformation agenda. I remember trying to raise it to the then Chairman of the Committee on Budget who was the co-chair in the Mediation Committee, hon. Ndindi Nyoro. I told him, “I thought you were a supporter of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda. How do you undermine this? You should be showing Kenyans the projects that you are implementing. You promised to come up with industrial parks in partnership with county governments. It was not the county governments’ agenda, but the national 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.

Government’s agenda, yet you are here undermining the passing of the law that will deliver on that.” Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, and the Senate Majority Leader, during your Parliamentary Group meeting, you should advise your colleagues in the National Assembly that some of the decisions that they make actually undermine your own development agenda. We will not have much to show on the programmes in the First Schedule because of the ego trips by the National Assembly. It is what has delayed this issue. I would like us to apologize to the CHPs and to the county government health workers for the delays we have had, which was completely unnecessary. The payment to CHPs and the county government health workers that have been delayed is a total unfortunate occurrence and we need to apologize to them. We had to pass this Bill. Unfortunately, the National Assembly would not let us pass it. In my view, we need to come up with ways in which the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill can pass without the shenanigans that we have gone through during this period. I am requesting that the committee or the Senate at large, seriously consider whether there is an alternative way in which County Governments Additional Allocations Bill can pass without the recent experience. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would then want to speak to the Fourth Schedule. The Fourth Schedule is about the Development Partners Funds that are additional allocations. Out of 14 funds, only two are grants and 12 of those funds are loans. We owe it to the Kenyan people to give them an account of the monetary loss that has been occasioned by the eight-month delay in operationalizing these loans. I am suggesting that the committee gets a report from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), which should be an assessment of how much has been lost in terms of public funds when we consider the fines and the commissions we have to pay. This is because the charging commenced as soon as we signed those loans. It is important that the people of Kenya get to know how much money has been lost. It is also important that the National Assembly gets to appreciate how much we are losing as a result of these ego trips. Therefore, it will be good to know the penalties that we are being charged. It will also be good to know the value loss that we have had because of the delays in implementing the projects that ought to have started. If we do not put a value on what we are losing, then they do not appreciate, they imagine that it is just an ego trip about who is or who has the powers between the two Houses. It will be good, in future, for us to be able to tell Kenyans that we are losing this much because National Assembly does not want to implement devolution. I am requesting that figure be given to us. We need to know how much we have lost on the 12 loans in terms of the commissions that we are being charged and the cost of not implementing these programmes. When it comes to the schedule on the court fines, I totally support the committee. Even though they have passed it, we need to find a more transparent formula that we can use to determine how much court fines are coming in and how much each county has to get. When you look at that schedule, you will notice that very few counties are receiving any monies out of the court fines. 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.

I have no clue why it is only those counties. It will be good to know how much we are getting out of this and how much in terms of apportionment will be going to all the other counties as well. As I finalize, my plea is that as a Senate, let us ensure we do not have a repeat of what has happened. That might mean that we think out of the box in terms of how we want to pass the County Government's Additional Allocation Bill (Senate Bill No.1 of 2025). If it means there is a big conversation within the summit and between the two Houses, we need to find a solution so that the National Assembly appreciates that funds that have been negotiated in loan and grant agreements. Funds that have been put in budgets courtesy of the National Government Development Agenda are funds that we cannot hold back merely because we want a particular fund to pass. It is the most shameful thing that they use the RLMF to blackmail the country on very important funds and to delay the implementation for eight months. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support this Bill. However, I request the issues I have raised, which are important, be looked into by the Committee, so that we do not have a repeat of this in the coming financial year. I thank you.

Sen. Agnes Kavindu, please, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to, first of all, congratulate the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget. I would like to echo the words of those who have gone before me. That this Bill is overdue because counties are suffering. I will support the Bill even as Machakos County is losing some money. For instance, on the First Schedule, Machakos County last year had Kshs445,350,996 and this year, they have been allocated Kshs247,159,451. We are losing Kshs48,967,916. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is because CHPs were not there before. The CHPs have been allocated in Machakos Kshs83,250,000, which is okay. As we delay passing this Bill, they are suffering. In addition, the doctors are on the streets demonstrating every day because of lack of payments and promotions. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we should pass this Bill as soon as possible so that doctors and the CHPs across the country get their Kshs50.5 billion. It is not good enough, but for the time being, they can live decent lives like any other person. On the Second Schedule, I would say that Machakos County is gaining because last Financial Year 2023/2024, it was not allocated any money on roads maintenance. This year we have been allocated Kshs314,887,445, which is okay. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on unconditional and additional allocations from court fines, Machakos County, last year had Kshs14,436,324. This year, we have gained with Kshs1,617,000. As per the fourth schedule, Machakos County, again has lost Kshs144,496,490 because last year we had Kshs497,315,830. This year we are getting Kshs352,000. We should pass this Bill as it is as we continue following up with the rest of it. When we continue delaying because this money has already been dispatched from the 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.

partners' accounts. However, we continue losing because we are paying on interest when the counties are not spending this money on development projects. So, I would like us to pass it as it is as we continue fighting for its increment. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we should also warn the National Assembly not to interfere so much on the allocations of the county governments because we are always at grassroots level and we know what happens there. For instance, roads that belong to County Government of Machakos are in pathetic situations. That is why the governors wants to this money so that they can work on the roads. When Members of the National Assembly are working on their roads, the county governments should also be working on theirs. I support.

Deputy (Sen. Kathuri): Sen. Kinyua, please, proceed.

Asante, Bw. Naibu Spika kwa kunipa fursa hii. Mwanzo, ningependa kuunga mkono Mswada huu, na vile vile kupongeza Kamati ya Seneti ya Fedha ana Bajeti amabyo inaongozwa na Sen. Roba, kwa kazi nzuri ambayo wamefanya. Jukumu letu kubwa kama Seneti kulingana na Kipengee 96 cha Katiba, ni ugavi wa pesa ambazo zinaenda katika gatuzi zetu na kutetea na kulinda gatuzi zetu. Kiranja wa Wengi, Sen. (Dkt.) Boni Khalwale, amesema ya kwamba sisi ni maadui wa gatuzi. Ningependa kumkosoa kwa sababu sisi sio maadui. Sisi hutetea na kuzilinga gatuzi zetu dhidi ya maadui zake. Bw. Naibu Spika, napongeza vile ambavyo wauguzi wa nyanjani wamepewa hela. Kwa mfano, nikiangalia kwetu, Kaunti ya Laikipia, naona wamepewa Shilingi milioni 25 kwa sababu hao ndio wanafanya kazi nzuri. Ukitembea nchi ya Cuba, utaona hawa wahudumu wa nyanjani ndio wanahusika pakubwa kuwatibu wananchi mashinani. Mgonjwa awe na ugonjwa wa saratani au moyo na magonjwa mengine ambayo yanawaadhiri watu wetu mashinani, ni wao wako kuwaangalia na kuwashughulikia wagonjwa wetu. Bw. Naibu Spika, ni kero katika nchi yetu kupata kuwa hawajalipwa. Ndiposa wakati huu nashukuru kamati kwa sababu tayari wameweka Shilingi milioni 25 ambazo zitaenda kwa wauguzi wetu wa nyajani katika Kaunti ya Laikipia. Ningependa sana kujadili mambo ya Laikipia kwa sababu kila Seneta ambaye yuko hapa anaweza akaguzia kaunti yake. Ukiangalia swala la kulipa madeni ya maafisa wa afya kwenye gatuzi zetu, Kaunti ya Laikipia imetengewa Shilingi milioni 40. Hii itasaidia kwani hivi juzi ulienda kwenye lango la Seneti kuchukua ombi la madaktari hawa. Kila wakati wako kwenye maandamano kwani hawajapewa pesa yao. Tunategemea wauguzi hawa. Ni muhimu kuelewa kuwa unaweza kosa barabara ama elimu lakini ukiwa mgonjwa unaweza ukafa. Ni vizuri sana vile hela hizi zimetengwa ili wauguzi hawa wapate haki yao.

Ningependa kuangazia CAIPs ambazo zinajengwa ili kuongeza dhamana ya bidhaa zetu. Sijafahamu ujuzi ambao kamati hii ilitumia kuchagua gatuzi ambazo zitapewa hela hizi. Kumbuka kule kwetu Laikipia eneo la Rumuruti, aliyekuwa Waziri wa Biashara na Viwanda Mhe. Moses Kuria alikuja na kufungua sehemu ile na zaidi ya 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.

ekari 300 zikatengwa kwa sababu ya ujenzi huu. Kulikuwa na sherehe kubwa na mbwembwe. Tulijitolea na kutenga sehemu ile kwa sababu tuna shamba kubwa.

Serikali kuu iliahidi kutoa shillingi millioni 250 kwa kila gatuzi. Naangalia Mswada huu na naona kuna gatuzi 19 ambazo zimepewa pesa hizi. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, amesema tuwe na subira kwa sababu hata kaunti yake haijapewa zile hela, tutaangaliwa kwenye ule Mswada mwingine.

Swali la muhimu ni hili. Sehemu hizi zimetengwa, tumejua ni bidhaa zipi ambazo tutakuwa tunaongeza dhamana? Tunaweza kujenga, Serikali kuu ilete pesa lakini sehemu hizi zibaki kuwa mahame. Tumeona mambo mengi kama nyumba kujengwa lakini zinabaki kuwa mahame.

Tukigawa pesa hizi kwenda katika gatuzi zetu, sehemu zile zitumike vizuri. Isiwe tu ni kutengeneza sehemu za kuongeza dhamana kwenye bidhaa zetu na hatuna chochote cha kuongeza dhamana.

Kaunti ya Laikipia tunakuza nyanya na sisi ni wakulima wa mifugo. Itatubidi tuchague ni kipi ambacho tutaongeza dhamana. Kaunti ya Uasin Gishu wajue ni bidhaa gani wataongeza dhamana ili tusifanye jambo moja sisi wote. Pia kaunti ya Narok inaweza chagua kama ni ng’ombe ama maziwa. Tunashabikia Narok wafanye ile kazi. Kaunti ya Nyamira unapata ni mandizi inaongezwa dhamana. Lakini isiwe ukienda kwenye Kaunti ya Narok, Kisii na Nyamira wote wanaongeza maziwa dhamana. Hii itakuwa ni kazi bure. Lazima tujipange ili tujue ni kaunti ipi itafanya nini.

Naunga mkono RMLF. Barabara zigawanywa vizuri kama za gatuzi na Serikali kuu. Pia gatuzi zetu zinahitaji zile pesa. Hivi juzi Waziri wa Barabara alikuja na kutuambia kwamba shillingi saba zitatumika kulipa madeni ya Serikali kuu. Lakini hata gatuzi zetu zina madeni. Sisi Wakenya tumetoa shillingi saba kama ushuru wa mafuta tukinunua. Pesa hizi zinafaa kaunti zipate mgao wao. Nikiangalia katika ratiba ya pili, Kaunti ya Laikipia kulingana na ugavi wa fedha hizi za RLMF, tungepewa shillingi millioni 235. Naomba korti zetu ziharakishe kusikiliza kesi hii ili tupate mgao huu. Nitasimama kidete kwa sababu barabara za Laikipi ziko hali mbaya. Bunge la Taifa linaleta mzozo huu ili kaunti zetu zisipate hela hizi. Tutapinga jambo hili leo, kesho, kesho kutwa, mtondo na mtondogoo. Shillingi million 235 zitakazo tengwa kwenda Kaunti ya Laikipia, tusiambie kuwa eti gavana atatumia pesa hizi vibaya. Kuna sheria zitafuatwa. Akitumia pesa vibaya, kuna kamati ambayo inaongozwa na Sen. M. Kajwang’ na nyingine ambayo inaongozwa na Sen. Osotsi ambazo zinaangalia matumizi ya pesa kwa undani katika kaunti zetu. Bw. Naibu Spika, tuna wawakilishi wadi ambao hufanya oversight. Pesa zikose kupelekwa katika kaunti kwa sababu ya wizi. Nani alisema Wabunge wa Bunge la Kitaifa ni malaika? Sisi tunapendekeza kwamba pesa hizi zifike katika gatuzi zetu. Katika ratiba ya kwanza kuna makao makuu ya gatuzi zetu ambayo pesa za ujenzi zimetengwa ili makao haya yamalizike. Inasemekana ni makao makuu ya kaunti tano lakini nikiangalia mswada naona ni kaunti nne. Kuna Isiolo, Lamu, Tana River na Tharaka-Nithi. Sijui ya tano ni ipi kwani haiko hapa. Lazima tuwe na marekebisho ili tuongeze pesa ya Nyandarua kwani wanahitaji makao makuu. 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.

Bw. Naibu Spika, huwa napitia Ol Kalou nikienda kwetu Laikipia. Naona jumba lile na wasipopewa pesa litakuwa mahame. Ni vizuri hili jambo liangaliwe kikamilifu. Naunga mkono Mswada huu.

Commissioner, Sen. Omogeni, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity. I want to begin by thanking the Committee of Finance and Budget for putting a lot of effort behind this Bill. Yesterday, we had a session with the Governor of Nyamira to examine how money is being spent in our county government. We can put a lot of effort as Senators into sending a lot of money to our counties, but unless it is used for the intended purposes, it will never impact the citizens of our respective counties. I am happy that the County of Nyamira will get an additional money that is supposed to assist the governor in solving some of the challenges he is facing. I am happy that my CHPs, the guys who are in the first line of defence in ensuring that we are assisting our people in accessing health care, will get an allocation of Kshs44,370,000. How sad it is, hon. Senators, in my county, the last time CHP received a coin from our county government was in October, 2023. They have been working for more than a year without getting any coin from the County Government of Nyamira. I hope and pray to almighty God that the governor will not be tempted to divert this money, which should go to our CHPs. They should be paid in appreciation. In fact, if I were a governor, I would try to motivate the CHPs so that they could become specialists in their field.

What is wrong with training these people in nutrition and taking those who have an interest to join our training colleges, so that they grow and become nurses? However, when you demotivate them, allow them to work for two years and you do not pay them, you are not motivating these cadres of people.

I heard Sen. Kinyua speak about the value chain addition. I can see that my county is receiving a total of Kshs168,123,322 to support the value chain for farmers. However, I pose this question: If we went to the County of Nyamira today, will we find farmers who have been trained in any value chain, Sen. Kinyua? If we come to your county today, we have been sending money to your governor, will we find a group of farmers who will tell us that, “Yes, the World Bank (WB) supported us, now we have a value chain” If you come to Nyamira, I am sure you will not get anything. It is unfortunate, hon. Senators, that this money ends up in the pockets of governors.

Value chains mean that you must address post-harvest activities. Maybe if it is bananas, you should tell us that the farmers in Kisii have been trained. After the harvest of their bananas, they have started producing banana crisps, for example. Are you going to get that in Nyamira? I am sure that you will not find anything close to any value addition to the farmers. I am 100 per cent sure. However, how much money is going to Nyamira? A total of Kshs168,123,322. Have we even trained farmers in marketing? I do not know about Meru. Maybe Hon. Kawira may have trained farmers before she left. I can tell you that in many counties, this money ends up in the pockets of governors.

Yesterday, we were treated to comedy. Our governor said that he took time to submit documents to the auditors because he wanted to rearrange photos that he took 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.

training farmers and doing public participation activities. However, when you look at those photos, it is like he took Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) worshipers attending church under trees and he says that this is public participation. Then, he hides the images of the participants because he does not want us to see that there is a pastor somewhere.

When we give money to counties, let us follow up with oversight. I want to invite Sen. M. Kajwang's Committee to come to Nyamira so that we visit these farmer groups. I will accompany them. I am even inviting the Senator for Narok. Let us go down to the counties. I want to go to Nyamira and see the Kshs168, 123,322, which the group of farmers benefited from and their names. Let me know whether there is Mogaka, Onyancha, Nyaboke, Maria and Mageto. Who are these farmers who have benefited from this money?

If you look at the Kenya Informal Settlement Project (KISP), we are sending another Kshs151,515,000. Do we know what this money is meant for? It is supposed to reduce poverty in our counties. When I go to Nyamira, I should see maybe some youths who have been trained to improve their skills or have been given money by our governors to start some business. This is money that is coming from donors, and we will pay for it. It is not free money. Unfortunately, when this money reaches our counties, they call accounting officers and say, “ imekuja? Nataka yangu. Ile nyumba yangu sijamaliza. Kshs20 million!” We must do something as Senators to hold governors accountable for every coin that we send.

We have come from vacation because we want our people down at the grassroots to get this money, so that it improves and changes their lives, but not to send money so that governors can build big mansions. That is not the purpose. For donor money, somebody somewhere sacrificed to ensure that we get this money. I plead with the Senators to take advantage of our oversight committees. Invite these committees to your county. Let the governor give you a list of the people who have benefited. I want to see from Nyamira the youth groups that are beneficiaries from the hundreds of millions that are going to Nyamira. That is what it means to oversight our counties, so that the money goes down to the villages and devolution is felt.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have seen that we have been allocated Kshs105 million for industrial parks. How I wish my governor could pick up my call, I would take him to Kitui to benchmark and see what the Governor of Kitui is doing. I want you to accompany me to Nyamira, to see what is happening at a place called Sironga where the governor is doing an Industrial Park. All that he did was to put a fence round, do some ground breaking and that was it. However, the money has already been sent and spent in our County in Nyamira. The intention behind CAIPs was very good. We want to create opportunities for business for our people. Again, the same question. Unless our governors understand the vision of President William Ruto, they will be the weakest link in the achievement of his vision. So, again, I appeal to Governor Nyaribo, when this money hits your account, it is not your money. We want to see activities in Sironga, construction going on, and buildings coming up. A sum of Kshs105 million is not just some little change. This is money that can do work that can be seen. That is what we need to see. 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.

Finally, on the money for the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF), how I wish we could ring fence it to do tarmac roads in our counties. If we are giving this money to our counties to go and do murram roads, we are just giving them money to eat. Sen. Sigei, in Bomet, you send this money to your governor, tomorrow you will see him wearing a suit worth Kshs200,000 from the money you have sent him. They will tarmac a road that was already tarmacked by the Member of Parliament (MP).

So, if we need to transform our counties, let us ring-fence and condition this money. Even if you do two kilometres, it is okay. Let us even do five kilometres in a financial year. In five years, we will have done 25 kilometres. That will be transformative. I thank the Chairperson for the good work done. However, the job is also cut out for us, as Senators, in our oversight role. We must follow this money down to the grassroots and ensure that we get a detailed report on how it is being spent, who the recipients and beneficiaries are. All the community groups that have received the money, let us have a schedule from each constituency, so that the governors will know that the Senators of the Republic of Kenya are watching. I support, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

Sen. Wakili Sigei?

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to this important Bill. It is important because this House has been recalled from recess to come and deal with this critical Bill. It is the one which sorts out what my colleague Sen. Omogeni has said money that will go to the counties. How I wish that once this Bill is voted for and passed, the money is utilized for the intended purposes. It is a crucial Bill because besides us asking for the money to be released to the counties in good time, we are also called upon as the Senate, to ensure that once the money is released, it is put into good use. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to appreciate and commend the Committee that has burnt the midnight oil to make sure that this report gets here, the Bill is availed before the House for debate and finally approval and voting. However, the biggest and the greatest challenge is the fact that we have had to be recalled from recess because of the delays which have been occasioned by the sibling rivalry between this particular House and the National Assembly. Nonetheless, we are here and the committee has done a commendable job. I wish to make just a few comments, particularly with regard to the fact that we are dealing with this Bill because we want our respective counties to get additional allocation. It is, in fact, reflected in the objectives of the Bill that this Bill seeks to allocate supplementary or, rather, additional resources to our various county governments and define respective responsibilities, particularly with the respective county governments on the allocated resources. Once these resources are released to the county governments, we expect some level of efficiency and effectiveness in the utilization of the resources. The most unfortunate thing is that as we fight for additional allocations to our respective county governments, once the monies get there, they are misappropriated in very many ways. 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.

Time and again we had our governors appearing before the various committees. The experiences that we get and see from not only their presentation but even the documentations that come from their offices, together with the documentation that the committees in this House are utilizing courtesy of the office of the Auditor-General, are so wanting and with glaring misappropriation and corruption. How I wish that even as we push for these resources, we do not send the resources and as we have always said, have the devolved corruption use the money for otherwise unintended purposes. I want to speak to the specific provisions of the Bill running from the clauses. Under Clause 4, which deals with the First Schedule of the Bill, this is where we have provided for additional allocations, which will consist of various funds and these funds are the funds which, as I have said, has been occasioned because of the delays in between the National Assembly and the Senate. The additional funds are pursuant to the provisions of Articles 201 and 202 of the Constitution. We are supporting all our county governments to get additional funding. In this case, each county government will get additional allocation from the national share and this particular fund will be expected to be utilized for the purpose that it has. Under Clause 5 where it gives us the various streams of these additional conditional and unconditional allocations, we have got the one which I will want to speak specifically to, the ones which are relevant to the county that I represent, the County Government of Bomet, where on the one hand we do not have of course under Column B allocations for purposes of construction of the county headquarters. Colleagues here have talked about funds that are allocated for County Aggregated Industrial Parks (CAIPs) in various counties. This is one allocation in which, out of the 47 counties, 19 have so far benefited. This particular allocation, which is reflected under Clause 5 will be expected to be utilized for good use. It was in the course of this particular allocation that I expected our respective counties to also avail in their budget the additional Kshs250 million. I am aware that in Bomet County, this ought to have happened in the previous financial year so that even though it is not among the 19 that have already benefited and those which will benefit from the passage of this Bill, the allocation at the county level from the previous funds ought to have been utilized. Unfortunately, because of what we have called the devolved corruption, the allocation of Kshs50 million that had been put by the County Assembly for this purpose has already been reallocated elsewhere because of the interest that the leadership at the county level has utilized. This particular Bill will make sure that the 19 counties that are expected to benefit will benefit. We look forward to making sure that once this Kshs250 million is disbursed, those counties are to use that money to develop the industrial parks, support the locals, support the people of the respective counties, to get jobs and to add value to their produce from those industrial parks. The most important - and this is the one that all of us as Members of this House support to the last coin - is with regards to the conditional allocation for Community Health Promoters (CHPs). In this case, this is one of the most critical supports that we 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.

needed to do to help those who are in the first line of defense in our health facilities within our villages. These are the teams that for the last over two years in the County Government of Bomet, have never gotten any payment from the county government. This allocation will ensure that at least this team gets appreciation for the work they are doing, supports the community and continues also to be motivated so that even though the allocation might not be sufficient enough to pay them for the work they are doing, they are appreciated and they will be able to continue. There is still the challenge of kitting. In most places, some of these community health promoters do not have kits. They risk their lives they risk their health in the process of supporting the communities that they come from and in this case, in most cases, in most counties, without any money that has been paid to them. This particular Bill will ensure that these monies get to support them and ensure that we enhance the support of the health sector, which under the Constitution is a devolved function. The conditional allocation for purposes of basic salary arrears for county governments also under the same clause is very critical. Most, if not all, county governments have arrears in almost all the sectors of their employees. It is not only with regards to the health sector, but in this case, the health workers’ allocation, which is a conditional one in this case, is welcome. I look forward to these monies being disbursed so that those who are in our health facilities, whether they have arrears or not, are equally promoted to ensure that they continue supporting the health sector and the communities that they come from. Clause 6 of this particular Bill, provides that the Cabinet Secretary is expected at every 15th day of the month to publish the transfers. In this case, it is expected that once this publication is done, we are able, as a House, to track and ensure that we can follow on the level of transparency and accountability. These regular monthly updates which are required by this particular bill is to help us to get to know how much has been disbursed to this particular county, who among those who are in charge of those counties have responded by ensuring that they do an update of publication and in this case, having them in the Kenya Gazette will ensure the transparency that we have. The experience that we have had for the last financial year is that the disbursements have been done in good time, but we do not get the publications and the gazettement in good time to enable us to track them. If this was done, then the allegations that we get across the board from among the governors that there are delays in disbursements would not become an issue. We will thereafter be able to follow and ensure that the funds that have been disbursed are put to good use. As well as the CECs from the relevant counties sharing with the public on those disbursements. Clause 8 speaks to the concerns that we have. Allow me to make comments on schedules which have been made because of the amount of the additional funds which we are going to be sending. This particular Bill will make sure that the County Government of Bomet will get an additional Kshs 491 million. How I wish this amount would be put into good use. 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.

How I wish that what we have lost about Kshs1.6 billion, which is subject of investigation, does not become another conduit for the additional monies which we are fighting for. Today, we are angels, as one colleague has said here, because we are fighting for additional revenues to be given to our counties. Tomorrow, when we speak and ask for proper use of resources and ask the county governments and our respective governors--- when I speak and ask Prof. Barchok how he has abused the opportunity given by misappropriating funds, we are no longer angels. We will fight; we will speak so that whatever little resource that we extend to the county government is put to good use. If we are talking about Kshs 74 million towards Community Health Promoters (CHPs) those people must benefit from that money. We are talking about basic salary for health workers whose arrears are in billions of shillings. They should get the money once the amount is disbursed. When we are talking about RMLF of about Kshs163 million, that is an additional amount being allocated to the county government of Bomet, how I wish they are able to speak about the allocations for the last financial year. In most cases, the monies allocated are not utilised for purposes of construction of roads to be as motorable as those which are done by other institutions. This is an opportunity for us to push for additional money. I want to encourage Members of this House to also speak tomorrow to make sure that the monies they have sent is put into good use. Where there is abuse, let the law that we have in this country act so that we also ensure that our people get services for the monies that we send. Otherwise, as a House, we will be pushing for additional money. We will fight with the national Government; we will fight with the National Assembly. We will ask for more money to go to our county governments. As the rest of my colleagues here have said, that amount that is sent out will go into the pockets of the county governments; the county governors and their friends. Additional amount of 491 million is not a small amount of money. However, we would want to see reflection of service delivery to the people, whether in terms of payment of salaries or service delivery to a number of the projects. Unfortunately, those which are funded by other partners are visible. Those which are funded by the county governments are not visible. We would like to call upon those people at the county government, led by the county governors and their teams to make sure that as we pass this Bill, we want them to account up to the last coin. We want the people to feel the government and the resources that are sent. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I know and I want to encourage my colleagues in this House to make sure that we support and pass this Bill, so that at the end of the day, we will be having a reason to put our county governments to account. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Senator, as you recall in the morning, the business on the paper was rescheduled, or was rearranged. So, for the purpose of today's business in the afternoon, I want us to lay some papers and give notices of Motion. Then we will go back to the debate of the Bill. That is about five minutes.

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.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, 27th March, 2025- Reports of the Select Committee on County Public Accounts, on the consideration of the Reports of the Auditor-General, on the financial statements, Volume I and Volume II, for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Mombasa County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kwale County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kilifi County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Tana River County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Lamu County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Taita Taveta County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Garissa County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Wajir County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Mandera County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Marsabit County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. 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.

Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Isiolo County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Meru County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Tharaka Nithi County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Embu County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kitui County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Machakos County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Makueni County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nyandarua County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nyeri County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kirinyaga County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Murang’a County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kiambu County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Turkana County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of West Pokot County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. 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.

Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Samburu County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Trans Nzoia County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Uasin Gishu County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Elgeyo Marakwet County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nandi County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Baringo County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Laikipia County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nakuru County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Narok County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kajiado County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kericho County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Bomet County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kakamega County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024.Kakamega, Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Vihiga County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. 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.

Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Bungoma County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Busia County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Siaya County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kisumu County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Homa Bay, County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Migori County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kisii County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nyamira County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nairobi City County Executive for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

Okay, thank you. Do you have another Paper?

Yes, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with your indulgence, I also beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, 27th March, 2025- Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Mombasa County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kwale County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. 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.

Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kilifi County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Tana River County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Lamu County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Taita Taveta County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Garissa County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Wajir County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Mandera County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Marsabit County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Isiolo County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Meru County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Tharaka Nithi County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Embu County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kitui County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Machakos County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. 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.

Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Makueni County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nyandarua County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nyeri County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kirinyaga County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Murang’a County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kiambu County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Turkana County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of West Pokot County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Samburu County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Trans Nzoia County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Uasin Gishu County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Elgeyo Marakwet County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nandi County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Baringo County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. 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.

Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Laikipia County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nakuru County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Narok County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kajiado County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kericho County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Bomet County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kakamega County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024.Kakamega, Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Vihiga County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Bungoma County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Busia County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Siaya County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kisumu County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Homa Bay County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Migori County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. 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.

Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Kisii County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nyamira County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on Audited Financial Statements of Nairobi City County Assembly for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

Chair, County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, 27th March 2025- Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Diani for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Eldoret for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Iten Tambach for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Kakamega for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Kapsabet for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Kilifi for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Kisii for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Kinango for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Kwale for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Lamu for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Lunga Lunga for the Financial Year 2023/2024. 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.

Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Malindi for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements municipality of Mumias for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements Municipality of Mwatate for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements Municipality of Nyamira for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements Municipality of Voi for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Report on the audited financial Statements Municipality of Wote for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

Next is the Chairperson Committee on Finance and Budget.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I beg to lay the following Paper on the table of the Senate today, 27th March, 2025- Report of the Standing Committee of Finance and Budget on the consideration of the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill, (Senate Bills No.1 of 2025).

Can we hear from the Chairperson of the Committee on County Public Accounts.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Reports of the Select Committee on County Public Accounts on the consideration of the Reports of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements (Volume I and II) for Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Taita-Taveta, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka- Nithi, Embu, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Baringo, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira and Nairobi City, County Executives for the Financial Year 2023/2024, laid on the table of the Senate on Thursday, 27th March, 2025 and approves the recommendations of the Committee on the Financial Statements and Fiduciary Risk Assessment of the respective County Executives for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

Do you have another Notice of Motion?

Yes, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. 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.

Give all you Notices of Motion.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Reports of the Select Committee on County Public Accounts on the consideration of the Reports of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Taita-Taveta, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, Embu, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Baringo, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira and Nairobi City County Assemblies for the Financial Year 2023/2024, laid on the table of the Senate on Thursday, 27th March, 2025 and approves the recommendations of the Committee on the Financial Statements of the respective County Assemblies for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

Thank you.

Sen. Osotsi, you also need to give notice of your Motion.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Reports of the Select Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds on the consideration of the Audit Reports for the Financial Year 2023/2024 for Diani, Eldoret, Iten, Kapsabet, Kakamega, Kilifi, Kisii, Kinango, Kwale, Lamu, Lunga Lunga, Malindi, Mumias, Mwatate, Nyamira, Voi and Wote municipalities, laid on the Table of the Senate on Thursday, 27th March, 2025 and approves the recommendations of the Committee on the Financial Statements of the respective Municipalities for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

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.

Thank you, Sen. Osotsi. Now, Hon. Members, having concluded on the Notices of Motions, which the Chair directed that they be given, we will go back to Order Number 13. We will allow Members to contribute to the Bill that was being debated. I will allow Sen. Dullo to make her contributions. Clerk, please, give the Senator the microphone.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is not working.

You can move to the next seat, Sen. Dullo.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I rise to support this particular Bill. 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.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, before I speak to the Bill, I wish to say something about a Member of County Assembly (MCA) who was shot last evening in Isiolo County as a result of escalating insecurity in Isiolo County. The insecurity is taking a very serious dimension. There is an MCA of Burat Ward in Isiolo County by the name Nicholas Lorot, who was shot last evening. Fortunately, he survived but he has several bullets lodged in his shoulder. There is a lot of insecurity in Isiolo, and I hope the Cabinet Secretary will move with speed and ensure that the situation is contained. This is because our leaders are targeted. This shooting happened at 7.30 p.m. in the middle of Isiolo County Central Business District where we have full time security apparatus. Something needs to be done. We have requested for an overhaul of security apparatus in Isiolo, on the Floor of this House, but nothing has happened up to now. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have just been lamenting in this House that the National Assembly has done this or that. For how long are we going to cry in this House? Can we have a solution to the challenges we have in this House? We have several experiences from other jurisdictions where Senate is independent of the National Assembly. I once travelled with Hon. Mutula Kilonzo Jr.---

Sen. Dullo, there is a point of order from Sen. Cherarkey. What is your point of order, Senator?

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise under Standing Order No.58. I am surprised. I thought Sen. Dullo is the Chairperson of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations. She should be requesting the House to brief it on the escalating insecurity in the country instead of blaming it elsewhere. Is it in order? Under Standing Order No. 58, as the Chairperson of the Committee, you should be telling us what is happening. The Cabinet Secretary is incompetent.

Sen. Cherarkey, did I hear you say that you are rising under Standing Order 58?

On the Statement by the Chairperson, sorry if it escaped my mind.

Do you want the Chair to remind you what Standing Order 58 states?

Yes, please.

Standing Order 58 states- “During Statement hour, a Senator may, by the indulgence of the Senate, explain matters of a personal nature, although there is no question before the Senate.”

Mr. Speaker, I do not know why Sen. Dullo is getting irritated and yet she is the Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations.

Sen. Cherarkey, you have raised your point as far as Sen. Dullo being Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations is concerned.

The Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations is temperamental. 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.

You have raised your point as far as Sen. Dullo being the Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations. However, you are out of order as regards the reference to Standing Order 58. I believe Sen. Dullo should be able to speak to that aspect as the Chairperson of that Committee.

Sen. Dullo, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I know where Sen. Cherarkey was going, but that is for another day. As the Chairperson of National Security, I have a right to talk and discuss matters affecting my people in Isiolo County. Let me proceed. Before I was interrupted by Sen. Cherarkey, I was going to support the Bill on what is contained in it as far as First Schedule is concerned.

Sen. Boni, allow Sen. Dullo to proceed. Sen. Dullo, I would like to warn you that, you should confine your comments and contributions to the Bill that is before the House. Be guided by Standing Order 120 on the relevance of this. The Chair has directed as much. Proceed to contribute to this Bill.

Mr. Speaker, much obliged. As far as the Bill is concerned, in the First Schedule of RMLF, Isiolo County has been allocated Kshs190 million, which is a lot of money. In my opinion, as a country we are going wrong, because you will see that the budget for roads is within the constituency, the county government, and the National Government. If this budget is consolidated in one basket, it will do a wonderful job. However, as it is, this money is not helping our people on the ground. Much of this money is going to murram roads. There are no tarmacked roads. Those roads are swept away immediately after the rains, which means we are dipping into a hole that is not giving us any benefit at all. Secondly, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the county governments do not have even experience and expertise as far as roads are concerned. There are no engineers in the counties. The work of the engineers is done by County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) and Chief Officers and the contractors themselves. So, I am happy that this budget is allocated to Isiolo County. However, I hope the County Government of Isiolo will put this money in proper use. There is a bridge that collapsed yesterday in Isiolo County as a result of rains. Therefore, they should be able to utilize this money to have a solution to it. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the second point that I would like to raise is on Community Health Promoters. Our health staff in the counties are in a pathetic situation. They do not get salary and allowances. Their remittance is not remitted to National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) or National Social Security Fund (NSSF). How do you 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.

expect a member of staff who has not gotten salary for two-three months to attend to a patient? It is not possible. Something needs to be done. We are happy that this money is going to the counties. However, when this money hits the account of the county government, this money is diverted elsewhere. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as a House, we cannot just sit here and always talk about counties doing A, B and C. Perhaps, the Chairperson of Senate Standing Committee on Public Accounts will speak to the reports of Public Accounts Committee. When these governors are asked to come and appear before the Public Accounts Committee or any other committee of oversight, do not appear. They always give excuse. Some will say, “I have travelled sijui to where”, “I am sick”--- Accountability is a big problem as far as budget allocated to those counties are concerned. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on the headquarters, I remember I sat in a committee that allocated budget to the five counties that are financed by the National Government. This was 2015. Up to date, if I could speak for Isiolo County, that building is a shell. It is an eyesore. How many years are those, down the line, from 2015 to date? We do not have offices. We are actually dipping into our pockets and paying rent to private individuals, while we should have prioritized in finishing that particular building. We always get our priorities wrong. Since I can see Isiolo County has been allocated Kshs150 million, I wish they could utilize that money to finish that building. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the other point that I would like to speak to is the County Industrial Park. As it has been indicated, there are only 19 counties that are financed. However, the governors all over now, are running around looking for land where they can fix Industrial Park. Even those who are not among the 19 are allocating budget to Industrial Park. We need to have our priorities right. If our headquarters are not fixed, why do you run around fixing Industrial Park without a budget allocation? The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget should look into this and see that those who already have allocated budget for that purpose in their budget are the only ones who should be actually given the Kshs250 million from the National Government. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in reference to the projects that are pending, there are so many projects that have stalled in the country. So many. Instead of, finishing the projects that have stalled in the counties, the new governors will abandon and start theirs. Similarly, instead of the National Government finishing the projects they have started--- For example, there are so many projects and Equalization Fund that have been abandoned by the National Government. Those are the projects that should have helped our people, especially health centers. I have several projects in my county that have stalled, and up to now, almost three to five years down the line, they have not been completed. I urge the Department that is concerned with national government projects, to come up with projects that have stalled in all the counties, so that we can see how we to complete those projects. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Kshs50.5 billion is a lot of money, and I must thank the Senate Standing Committee on finance and Budget as far as this budget and Bill is concerned. A delay by the national Government is not right because we cannot always 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.

keep on fighting. We need to move with speed and ensure that we have taken care of our people and provided service delivery. For instance, today, I have just received a message, that, in Isiolo County referral hospital, out of the five dialysis machines, only one is working. The other four have collapsed. They cannot be repaired, yet if you look at the budget of the county governments, health takes the chunk of the budget that is allocated to hospitals or health department. We are not assisting our people in the country. We are not holding the governors accountable as far as budget allocated to them is concerned. It is high time we stopped lamenting and took action on this budget allocated to the county governments. I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Abass, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. In the interest of time, I will be short. I want to join my colleagues in supporting the Bill. Unfortunately, this Bill is coming when you have only two months to use the money, and so much needs to be done. This is because our colleagues in the National Assembly feel that they have the authority to appropriate Bills the way they want. Both Houses have agreed upon the Bill. Unfortunately, we send different messages because of self-interest every time. This should end. I wish to return to the main points in the Bill, including the fuel levy. It is actually also a big problem. One thing is that the counties are supposed to take care of municipalities, towns, and all these places. The money given to Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) should go to even the counties. The National Assembly is mad about RMLF, but it should go back to them. They should draw the other money meant for KURA, which is in billions. It is the responsibility of the counties to take care of the municipalities, towns, and other areas within their jurisdictions. Secondly, the additional fund contains money that is actually borrowed from our donors, the World Bank and the government of the German Development Bank. These are loans. We keep on extending the approval of this Bill, and the interest on these loans keeps on accruing. The people of Kenya will pay the extra money because of undue delays made by the National Assembly. Therefore, we will not allow this kind of business next time. These two Houses must have a conversation on how best to handle this contentious issue. One thing we have seen is that the audited accounts that we are using to base our equitable shares are 2021. Our Auditor-General has tried her best, and the audited accounts now available are for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Therefore, all equitable shares must be based on the most recently audited accounts. This House must take note of that. If I come back to my county, my county is getting about Kshs83 million for this additional fund. The one other thing is the CAIPs. Wajir has done a wonderful job there. There are big houses coming up. However, the CAIPs in Wajir have no funds allocated. What will happen? Those buildings will be stalled. 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.

Therefore, next time, money should be paid according to priorities, work pending, and work done. Instead of allocating funds to a county to start a new building, it is better to finish existing buildings, so the county can finish the stalled projects. One thing I found is that there is a county with 146 stalled projects. Some of the stalled projects require only Kshs500,000 to be completed. So, you get surprised. Why are the governors not taking this kind of business seriously? As Senators, we have to agree on how best we will compel the various respective governors to be able to complete these stalled projects. I was having a conversation with some friends, and I found that the World Bank is concerned that the absorption rate for its projects in Kenya is only 8 per cent of the money that has been given out. We are not even utilising the borrowed money from the donors. We have so many reports. Today, we are laying so many reports from the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) and the County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee(CPIC). These reports will just be shelved. Are we following up on the issues? Every Committee has to follow up on all the concerns raised, so that we address them. Then, we can hold leaders in countries responsible. Then, we can compel institutions like the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Auditor-General, and Controller of Budget (CoB) to follow up on the issues raised by the Senate. We have only two months to use this money, and we have many pending bills. These pending bills must be cleared using these funds. With those few remarks, I want to give my friend time. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, and I support you.

Sen. Olekina, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I wish all senators were here to help us unfold this crisis. Listening to my colleagues, I am afraid that most of them do not understand that we have a serious problem. We are talking about the funds in this Additional Allocation Bill, yet the National Assembly has also come up with their version of the Bill. This is a crisis. There was a famous movie, Apollo 13, a space mission in 1970, in which Jim Lowell came up with the phrase, "Houston, we have a problem”. Kenya, we have a problem. Right now, our counties will not be receiving the money because of the bickering between the two Houses, the National Assembly and the Senate. We are discussing this Bill for the 2024/2025 Financial Year. What has stopped these loans and grants? Kenyans need to understand that we are discussing today a Bill that will allow money to be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund and deposited into County Revenue Funds. This is an additional allocation from the share of revenue from the national Government. It comes from grants, loans, and funds, and where we have a serious problem is nothing but the RMLF. I am of the opinion that, we should just remove that fund from this Bill so that we can deal with it separately and the rest of the money can go to counties. We have money that is supposed to go to counties from court fines. I am surprised to note that only a handful of counties have been allocated this money. Are you telling me that the Judiciary 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.

is not collecting money in Narok, such that you do not send any money from the court fines? We should now be creative so that we can ensure that money collected from taxpayers in Narok goes to Narok and that money collected from taxpayers in Kajiado goes to Kajiado. It is important for us to fight for the rights of our people, and the only way we can do this is if we understand their problems. Nonetheless, when we do not understand their problems, we are elected as senators to be in this House, and we are not there. Look at how many of us are here. This is a special sitting where all of us ought to be here so that we can fight for our resources to go to counties. But guess what? We are not here. Some of us are busy politicking outside, fighting for 2027 as if you know tomorrow. We must limit ourselves to the work that we are supposed to be doing. I am concerned that we are here talking about all these schedules. There are Kshs10.2 billion from the RMLF that counties are supposed to divide. I know my county of Narok is supposed to get about Kshs270 million, but will they really get that money if we are fighting back and forth? We have this Bill here from the Senate. I am happy that my colleague---

Hon. Senators, let us rise. Sen. Olekina, the Chair would not have wished to interrupt your flow of thought. However, because of the Standing Orders, we cannot go beyond that. You will have a balance of 16 minutes to conclude on your remarks when the House resumes at 2.30 p.m.