Tuesday, 24th September, 2024

Clerk, do we have quorum?

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

Hon. Senators, I am told that we do have quorum. Sen. Osotsi, the Deputy Party Leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Sen. Kavindu, please, take your seats.

Clerk, please, call the first Order.

I cannot see the Senate Majority Leader. Sen. Tabitha, you are a Member of the Senate Business Committee (SBC) . Kindly proceed to table the reports.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, 24th September, 2024-

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Elburgon Level 4 Sub- County Hospital - County Government of Nakuru for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Malindi Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Kilifi for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Bamba Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Kilifi for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Mariakani Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Kilifi for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Jibana Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Kilifi for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kilifi County Referral Hospital - County Government of Kilifi for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Baringo County Referral Hospital - County Government of Baringo for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kabartonjo Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Baringo for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Mogotio Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Baringo for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kandiege Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Homa Bay for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kendu Bay Sub-County Hospital - County Government of Homa Bay for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kisegi Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Homa Bay for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Ogongo Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Homa Bay for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Cheptais Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Bungoma for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Sirisia Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Bungoma for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Bumula Sub County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Bungoma for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kimilili Sub-County Hospital - County Government of Bungoma for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Mukuyuni Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Makueni for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Tawa Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Makueni for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Machakos Level 5 Hospital - County Government of Machakos for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kathiani Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Machakos for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Got Agulu Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Siaya for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Uyawi Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Siaya for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Madiany Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Siaya for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Bondo Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Siaya for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Ukwala Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Siaya for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kapenguria County Referral Level 5 Hospital - County Government of West Pokot for the year ended 30th June,

Next Order. Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) . Hon. Sen. Agnes Kavindu Muthama, you have the Floor.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee of Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations regarding stalled projects in Machakos County.

In the statement, the committee should-

Hon. Senator Mwaruma, the Senator for Taita Taveta County, you have the Floor.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to request a statement on education loans to students in teachers' colleges.

I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding the lack of Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funding and Government capitation for certificate and diploma students in primary and secondary school teachers' colleges.

In the statement, the committee should:

Now, before we move to the statements pursuant to Standing Order No.56 (1) , allow me to make the following communication.

Sen. Kavindu, you may have your seat.

Sen. Wafula, please, have your seat.

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker's Gallery this afternoon of seven young men and women who are in the Senate undertaking an internship programme.

The objective of the programme is to provide young people with first-hand experience in the legislative process and to expose them to the intricate world of public policy and public service.

Hon. Senators, in our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them. On behalf of the Senate and on my behalf, I wish them a fruitful time for learning.

I will allow the Senate Majority Leader under one minute to extend a warm welcome to the delegation.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I join you on behalf of our colleagues to appreciate the visit by the interns who are here from the various fields of study assignment in the institution. Today is one of those days when they visit the Chamber and see how we operate here.

Parliament is a premier employer. I say that very proudly, knowing the quality of work that our staffers do and the kind of experience that these young people will get.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, my simple advice to them is to make the best of their time in this institution and learn from the great members of staff who work in this institution.

I thank you and welcome the students.

Hon. Senators, we have statements pursuant to Standing Order No.56 (1) (b) . Hon. Sen. (Dr.) Murango, you have the Floor.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order 56 (1) (b) of the Senate Standing Orders to make a statement relating to activities of the Standing Committee of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries during the second part of that session covering the period between April to August 2024.

During the period under review, the committee held a total of 19 sitting, during which it considered one legislative agenda, three Bills, six Statements, two Petitions and one inquiry.

In the reporting period, pursuant to Standing Order No.131 (1) , the committee considered the Legislative Proposal; the Agricultural Produce Minimum Guarantee

Returns Bill, 2024. The Bill seeks to provide farmers with guaranteed minimum returns for their produce thus ensuring price stability in the agricultural sector.

The committee also considered the Nuts and Oil Crops Bill, 2023 (Senate Bills No.47 of 2024) and received submissions from the Council of Governors (CoG), Nature Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya.

The Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries has established a practice of conducting public participation in counties. The committee believes in meeting the farmers in the counties. It had planned to conduct public participation in Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Bungoma, Busia, Nyeri and Kirinyaga counties.

The committee commenced public participation in Kwale County. However, due to budgetary constraints, the committee is yet to conclude public participation in the remaining counties. These budgetary constraints have caused significant difficulties in processing of the business of the committee.

Agriculture is a devolved function. The Bills before this committee concern the rights of ordinary Kenyans. When the committee considered the Mung Beans Bill, the committee met stakeholders in Kitui County in Tseikuru.

On the Sugar Bill, (National Assembly Bill No. 34 of 2022,) the committee met the farmers in Kakamega, Bungoma, and Busia counties. The committee this morning resolved to suspend business until it is properly facilitated to execute its mandate.

The committee participated in the workshop on the World Bank-funded projects in counties organized by the State Department of Agriculture in June 2024. These engagements are vital to ensuring that Senators remain informed and engaged in the development of policies affecting the agricultural sector and projects being implemented in counties.

During the preliminary review, the committee considered a total of 17 statements. These statements addressed critical areas such as the use of harmful pesticides, delayed payment to dairy farmers, wheat seed shortages, crop insurance schemes, the postponement of election for the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) directors, the planned importation of sugar, vaccine production at the Kenya Veterinary Vaccine Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) and the distribution of subsidized fertilizer.

The committee reviewed two Petitions, one concerning the Ethics Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) draft investigation into the West Kano Irrigation Scheme and others regarding the catastrophic maize disease that has affected farmers in Bomet County for the past 12 years.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I thank your office and the Office of the Clerk of the Senate for the continuous support accorded to the committee in executing its mandate.

Lastly, I thank Members of the committee for their diligence and contribution during the committee activities. Attached herein is the status of the pending legislative business.

Proceed, Sen. Abass.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.56 (1) (b) to make a statement on the activities of the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations for the period commencing April to August, 2024.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, during the reporting period, the committee held 32 sittings in which it considered various activities pertaining to its mandates. As a snapshot, the committee transacted the following legislative business:

Order, hon. Senators! May the Chair of the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations be heard in silence.

Sen. Abass: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, the two committees have jointly held meetings with various stakeholders and are looking forward to concluding the matter and table a report in this House.

The committee is currently considering a legislative proposal on amending the County Governments Act, 2012, to provide definite roles of the Office of the Deputy Governor to clarify and streamline the responsibilities of the said office.

The committee is currently considering a legislative proposal on amending the County Governments Act, 2012, to provide definite roles of the Office of the Deputy Governor to clarify and streamline the responsibilities of the said office.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.56 (1) (b) to make a statement relating to the activities of the Standing Committee on Education for the second quarter of the Third Session, covering the period between April to August 2024.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, during the period under review, the committee held 17 sittings, during which it considered 22 statements, two Petitions and conducted two inquiries.

The committee also undertook one county oversight and networking engagement in Machakos County to acquaint itself with the implementation status of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) policies. Attached to this statement is a schedule of the legislative business considered by the committee.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the reporting period, the committee held a consultative meeting with the Cabinet Secretary of Education, the CoG and the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) , to deliberate on the plight of ECDE teachers, the implementation of the ECDE and TVET policies in counties, emerging issues in devolution, transfer of functions and intergovernmental relations.

In this period, the committee considered two petitions concerning the discrimination in the payment of hardship allowance to teachers in Taita-Taveta and Kilifi counties.

Whereas, the committee has endeavoured to finalise the consideration of three Petitions, it regrets the delays in concluding the Petitions, which has been occasioned by the unavailability of sufficient information and responses from the Executive, frequent requests for postponement of meetings by the stakeholders and quorum hitches.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, during consideration of the statements, the committee observed that there was an increasing number of statements pending before it and resolved to bundle statements relating to similar thematic areas and invite the concerned agencies to committee meetings for consideration.

Consequently, the committee is scheduled to meet the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education and the Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), to deliberate on several pending statements related to their specific mandates.

Consequently, during the quarter, the committee will continue engaging and following up on the implementation status of the policies on the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), the infrastructural development and congestion of learning institutions, the Government's commitment towards employment of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, the university funding model and the preparedness in transition for learners from JSS to senior secondary school.

The committee is also scheduled to continue engaging the CoGs to deliberate on the implementation of the scheme of service for ECDE teachers and the budgetary allocations and expenditure of counties in relation to the devolved functions under the education sector.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I thank your office and the Office of the Clerk of the Senate for the continuous support accorded to the committee in its work.

Lastly, I also want to thank the Members of the committee for their diligence and contributions during the committee activities.

I thank you.

In this period, the committee considered two petitions concerning the discrimination in the payment of hardship allowance to teachers in Taita-Taveta and Kilifi counties.

Whereas, the committee has endeavoured to finalise the consideration of three Petitions, it regrets the delays in concluding the Petitions, which has been occasioned by the unavailability of sufficient information and responses from the Executive, frequent requests for postponement of meetings by the stakeholders and quorum hitches.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, during consideration of the statements, the committee observed that there was an increasing number of statements pending before it and resolved to bundle statements relating to similar thematic areas and invite the concerned agencies to committee meetings for consideration.

Consequently, the committee is scheduled to meet the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education and the Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), to deliberate on several pending statements related to their specific mandates.

Consequently, during the quarter, the committee will continue engaging and following up on the implementation status of the policies on the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), the infrastructural development and congestion of learning institutions, the Government's commitment towards employment of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, the university funding model and the preparedness in transition for learners from JSS to senior secondary school.

The committee is also scheduled to continue engaging the CoGs to deliberate on the implementation of the scheme of service for ECDE teachers and the budgetary allocations and expenditure of counties in relation to the devolved functions under the education sector.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I thank your office and the Office of the Clerk of the Senate for the continuous support accorded to the committee in its work.

Lastly, I also want to thank the Members of the committee for their diligence and contributions during the committee activities.

I thank you.

Hon. Senators, I will allow comments on the sxtatements sought together with the statements by the three Chairpersons. We will do that exercise within the next 15 minutes.

Proceed, Sen. Maanzo.

more expensive they become because the contractors are on the ground. This is also associated with pending bills. The more you have debts, the more it becomes difficult to pool the resources we have together to develop the counties much better.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support the statement. There must be a consultative effort from the county governments and the national Government to make sure that all stalled projects, including Thwake Dam, are revived and completed so that we do not incur more expenses with the county.

I thank you.

more expensive they become because the contractors are on the ground. This is also associated with pending bills. The more you have debts, the more it becomes difficult to pool the resources we have together to develop the counties much better.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support the statement. There must be a consultative effort from the county governments and the national Government to make sure that all stalled projects, including Thwake Dam, are revived and completed so that we do not incur more expenses with the county.

I thank you.

Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Allow me to support the statement by the Senator for Machakos County, Sen. Kavindu Muthama, regarding pending and stalled projects in Machakos County.

You will realise that some of the pending bills issues that have been there are brought by stalled projects. Money has already been spent and part of the certificates have been paid, but the projects are not complete. It becomes a waste and not valuable to the people. It is not only happening in Machakos County, but cuts-across the 47 counties.

These are some of the issues we come across in our different committees. They are brought about by the political class issues. A new government comes in place and decides not to complete the projects initiated by the previous governor. The notion is that that project is from the previous governor. That affects the local people. They are not able to benefit from these projects because of the political issues that run across the different counties.

It will be prudent if this committee can interrogate all the 47 counties and find out which projects are pending and why they are pending. The governors should appear before the committee and show cause why they are not prioritizing the projects that have been there all this particular time.

Touching on education matters regarding Sen. Mwaruma's statements, we have the issues of funding from primary education as he puts it. I thought primary education is currently free. We should be focusing on making education free from Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) to the higher learning education level of the university. Education should be made totally free in this country.

I would want to entertain the discussion that all monies pertaining to bursaries issued from the county level, the national Government-Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the Ministry of Education be bundled to ensure they offer free education from ECDE to the highest level of education to all our students in this country.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Wambua, proceed.

A committee has made a resolution to suspend operations because they are not properly facilitated to carry out their functions. It should be remembered that though in that statement he mentioned the Mung Beans Bill as having been subjected to public participation in Tseikuru, however, the truth of the matter and for the record, is that public participation on the Mung Beans Bill took place in Tseikuru, Mutomo, Ngomeni and Kusiani.

It took place in four wards in three constituencies, and yet there are some Members in the National Assembly, who are mobilising to defeat the Bill on account of it having not been subjected to public participation. The matter of public participation on Bills is important. It requires that committees be properly facilitated to carry out both public participation and stakeholder engagement on their Bills.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support.

A committee has made a resolution to suspend operations because they are not properly facilitated to carry out their functions. It should be remembered that though in that statement he mentioned the Mung Beans Bill as having been subjected to public participation in Tseikuru, however, the truth of the matter and for the record, is that public participation on the Mung Beans Bill took place in Tseikuru, Mutomo, Ngomeni and Kusiani.

It took place in four wards in three constituencies, and yet there are some Members in the National Assembly, who are mobilising to defeat the Bill on account of it having not been subjected to public participation. The matter of public participation on Bills is important. It requires that committees be properly facilitated to carry out both public participation and stakeholder engagement on their Bills.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support.

Sen. Wafula, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Just a minute, Sen. Wafula. Senate Majority Leader, you cannot raise a point of order when there is no Senator unless it is an intervention you would wish to make. What is your intervention? It is certainly not a point of order.

Clerk, can you indeed confirm that we have the requisite number of delegates before I give direction on this matter?

Seajeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Division Bell for five minutes.

Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Division Bell for a further five minutes.

Sen. Ogola, proceed to the Dispatch Box.

Sen. Ogola, proceed to the Dispatch Box.

Order, Sen. Seki. Kindly take your seat. Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows:

County; Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Kakamega County; Sen. Lomenen, Turkana County; Sen. Methu, Nyandarua County; Sen. Mungatana, Tana River County; Sen. (Dr.) Murango, Kirinyaga County; Sen. Murgor, West Pokot County; Sen. Mwaruma, Taita Taveta County; Sen. Ogola, Homa Bay County; Sen. Okiya Omtatah, Busia County; Sen. Mariam Omar, Mandera County; Sen. Osotsi, Vihiga County; Sen. Seki, Kajiado County; Sen. Sifuna, Nairobi City County; Sen. Wafula, Bungoma County; Sen. Wakili Sigei, Bomet County and, Sen. Wambua, Kitui County.

NOES: Sen. Faki, Mombasa County.

Hon. Senators, the results of the division are as follows-

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.159 (1) of the Senate to withdraw the said Constitutional of Kenya (Amendment) (No.2) Bill (Senate Bills No.52 of 2023) which is appearing in today’s Order Paper as Order No.10.

The reasons for my withdrawal are well captured in my letter to you. The contents are well within your knowledge and also the need to ensure a broader consultation on the effects of this Bill.

I thank you and I wish to withdraw.

That Order stands withdrawn.

Order, Hon. Senators! Sen. Dullo, take your seat please.

Hon. Senators, the results of the division are as follows-

Hon. Senators, the results of the division are as follows-

The results of the division are as follows:-

AYES: 30 NOES: 0 ABSENTION: Nil.

The results of the division are as follows:-

AYES: 30 NOES: 0 ABSENTION: Nil.

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

Asante, Bw. Spika. Nilikuwa nachangia kauli hii nikisema ya kwamba, kuna miradi mingi ya maendeleo ambayo imekwama katika kaunti zetu. Kwa mfano, kuna kaunti ambazo miradi na mijengo imekwama kwa muda wa takriban miaka kumi, miaka sita na mingine miaka mitatu. Hatuoni sababu inayoshinikiza miradi hii kutokamilika.

Ukipiga kurunzi, tunapata ya kwamba ni miradi ambayo huwapa mapato wanakandarasi ama baadhi ya maafisa katika kaunti husika. Hivi kuhakikisha ya kwamba Wakenya na wanakaunti wanakamuliwa pasipo wao kujua.

Ninaunga Mhe. Sen. Kavindu Muthama mkono kwamba magavana na serikali za kaunti ziweze kujukumika. Wanapoanzisha miradi ya maendeleo, ikamilike katika awamu zao za uongozi ili wale ambao wanachukua hatamu za uongozi baadaye, wasilipe na kushugulika na madeni ambayo hawakuhusika kuidhinisha na kuanzisha.

kamati ilikuwa inapewa pesa, kwa mfano, shilingi milioni 20 au 15, itakuwaje sasa wakati ambapo tumepiga hatua nyingi za kigatuzi tunaanza kukohoa na kukatiwa hewa ya kifedha.

Hili ni jambo ambalo viongozi katika Bunge hili na viongozi katika kamati za Seneti, wamakinike, wajinyanyue na watutetee kwa sababu tumewapa nafasi. Hatutarajii sisi wenyewe tuje hapa, tuanze kuzusha na kudai kana kwamba sisi sio Seneti ambalo hugawia kaunti fedha za ugatuzi za kufanya maendeleo.

Juzi tulipitisha shilingi 400 bilioni kuenda katika kaunti zetu. Iwaje sisi wenyewe tunashindwa kutekeleza majukumu yetu kwa sababu hatuna pesa? Ni kinaya. Ninataka nielezwe kama kuna pesa ama hakuna pesa. Huenda ninasema hakuna pesa ilhali ziko hewani mahali na sijaziona.

Bw. Naibu Spika, ninashukuru kwa nafasi hii na kutaraji kwamba miradi ambayo haijakamilika ikamilike na ile ambayo yanapaswa kuanza yaanzishwe na imalizwe katika awamu za magavana waliyoko sasa.

Hon. Senators, the time that was alloted for the comments on the statements was 15 minutes. Fortunately, Sen. Wafula has used almost 6 minutes. So, let us now get Sen. Osotsi in two minutes. You can just make one comment on the statements.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to make a comment on the statement by the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Education on the matter of the current study that they are doing on ECDE to come up with a uniform scheme of service for the ECDEs. This would be one of the greatest achievements of this Senate if this matter was prioritised because we have a crisis in the management of ECDE in our counties. It is high time that the Standing Committee on Education finalised this report brought to this House, so that we can pass it and have it implemented in our counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, very soon they will present a report on their findings after they have reviewed the bursary funds in counties. We have found out that the bursary funds in our counties have been misused and mismanaged. It is illegal for our counties to continue appropriating money into these bursary funds, or the so-called governor's scholarship funds, when that is not a devolved, but national Government function. They are putting money in these funds, at the same time starving the ECDE and vocational training centres of the funds that are required to run them efficiently.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is a point of information.

Hon. Osotsi, do you want to be informed?

He can inform me because he is a Member of my committee and we have been dealing with the bursary funds.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is a point of information.

Hon. Osotsi, do you want to be informed?

He can inform me because he is a Member of my committee and we have been dealing with the bursary funds.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the scheme of service is one thing, but there are other challenges that face ECDE management in our counties, including provision of appropriate environment for learning, for example, classrooms and sanitary areas as they are not there in most of our ECDEs. It is a comprehensive matter. Capacity issues around the ECDEs are largely caused by low financing of these ECDE programmes in our counties.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it will be important for us to review the way the counties spend their money on education. It is an illegal and this has been going on for some time, where counties put money in bursaries, so that they can easily steal. This House has to rise to the occasion and abolish the bursary funds that we have in our counties.

Soon we will be bringing a report in this House that demonstrates how bursary funds and the Governor's Scholarship Funds. Some counties have invested in school infrastructure---

Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to react to the statement made by the Chairperson of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is disappointing that the issue of capacity and ability of committees is dysfunctional. As the Chair of the Liaison Committee, I expect you to intervene on this matter. Sen. Faki had requested for a kamukunji. I hope we can discuss this matter.

Finally, I needed an update from the Chairperson of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on the issue of bonus. I come from Nandi County and there are areas such as Vihiga, Kakamega, Nyamira, Kisii, Bomet and Kericho, where our tea bonuses were very low. We were receiving Kshs17 to Kshs25. Nonetheless, on this other side of the country, they were receiving up to Kshs61 in bonuses.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I saw people demonstrating in your area today, yet they are getting better bonuses of up to Kshs57 to Kshs60. In Nandi, we are getting only Kshs15 to Kshs25.

We are suffering on tea bonuses of our farmers, especially from the Rift Valley, parts of Nyanza and Western Kenya. We need this issue of tea bonuses to be spoken, because you cannot tell us that the tea that comes from another part of Kenya fetches more bonuses over the one that come from Rift Valley.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the scheme of service is one thing, but there are other challenges that face ECDE management in our counties, including provision of appropriate environment for learning, for example, classrooms and sanitary areas as they are not there in most of our ECDEs. It is a comprehensive matter. Capacity issues around the ECDEs are largely caused by low financing of these ECDE programmes in our counties.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it will be important for us to review the way the counties spend their money on education. It is an illegal and this has been going on for some time, where counties put money in bursaries, so that they can easily steal. This House has to rise to the occasion and abolish the bursary funds that we have in our counties.

Soon we will be bringing a report in this House that demonstrates how bursary funds and the Governor's Scholarship Funds. Some counties have invested in school infrastructure---

Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to react to the statement made by the Chairperson of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is disappointing that the issue of capacity and ability of committees is dysfunctional. As the Chair of the Liaison Committee, I expect you to intervene on this matter. Sen. Faki had requested for a kamukunji. I hope we can discuss this matter.

Finally, I needed an update from the Chairperson of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on the issue of bonus. I come from Nandi County and there are areas such as Vihiga, Kakamega, Nyamira, Kisii, Bomet and Kericho, where our tea bonuses were very low. We were receiving Kshs17 to Kshs25. Nonetheless, on this other side of the country, they were receiving up to Kshs61 in bonuses.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I saw people demonstrating in your area today, yet they are getting better bonuses of up to Kshs57 to Kshs60. In Nandi, we are getting only Kshs15 to Kshs25.

We are suffering on tea bonuses of our farmers, especially from the Rift Valley, parts of Nyanza and Western Kenya. We need this issue of tea bonuses to be spoken, because you cannot tell us that the tea that comes from another part of Kenya fetches more bonuses over the one that come from Rift Valley.

We are almost concluding now on statements. I think that should be the end of that session by having Sen. Beth Syengo.

Asante sana, Bw. Naibu Spika. Ninasimama kuunga mkono taarifa iliyowasilishwa na Seneta wa Machakos, Sen. Kavindu Muthama, kuhusu miradi ambayo imekwama katika kaunti zetu.

Kwa hakika, miradi mingi imekwama na kutotimiza kazi ambayo ilianzishwa kufanya kwa sababu ya viongozi waliokuwa hapo awali. Kwa mfano, kama ni gavana, akipata mradi ambao ulianzishwa na gavana aliyemtangulia ama kama ni Mbunge au mwakilishi wadi, wanaacha hiyo miradi kwa sababu za kisiasa. Wanaona wakimaliza, atakaye pata sifa ni yule aliyetangulia kuaazisha huo mradi, ambayo ni makosa.

Jambo la pili ni kusema kwamba pesa za umma zinatumika kuanzisha hii miradi. Miradi hiyo isipokamilika ndio iwafaidi wananchi, basi pesa za umma zinapotea na kuwa wasted. Ni makosa sana kwa pesa za umma kupotea na kukosa kufaidi wananchi.

Bw. Naibu Spika, miradi ikianzishwa katika kaunti zetu na kukosa kukamilika au kutumika, basi inakuwa maendeleo yamesimama. Tujuavyo kama viongozi katika Seneti, sisi hutetea ukamilifu na ufanyakazi kwa ugatuzi. Kwa hivyo isipofanyika, basi inakuwa kwamba kazi yetu haijahalalishwa kikamilifu.

Wananchi wa Kenya wanapoteza pesa zao, maendeleo yanakosa kupatikana mashinani. Wananchi wanahangaika ilhali walipiga kura na wanalipa ushuru. Pesa ambazo wanatoa kwa kulipa ushuru zinapaswa kutimika kuleta maendeleo kwa wananchi. Kukosa maendeleo ni kupoteza pesa za wananchi jambo ambalo halistahili.

Bw. Naibu Spika, nitachangia kidogo kuhusu ripoti iliyoletwa na Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Kilimo, Ufugaji na Uvuvi.

Mimi ni mwanakamati wa Kamati ya Kilimo na Mifugo. Ni vibaya kwamba mgao wa fedha unaopaswa kuenda kwa Kamati ya Kilimo na Mifugo---

Can we now go to the next Order?

We are almost concluding now on statements. I think that should be the end of that session by having Sen. Beth Syengo.

Asante sana, Bw. Naibu Spika. Ninasimama kuunga mkono taarifa iliyowasilishwa na Seneta wa Machakos, Sen. Kavindu Muthama, kuhusu miradi ambayo imekwama katika kaunti zetu.

Kwa hakika, miradi mingi imekwama na kutotimiza kazi ambayo ilianzishwa kufanya kwa sababu ya viongozi waliokuwa hapo awali. Kwa mfano, kama ni gavana, akipata mradi ambao ulianzishwa na gavana aliyemtangulia ama kama ni Mbunge au mwakilishi wadi, wanaacha hiyo miradi kwa sababu za kisiasa. Wanaona wakimaliza, atakaye pata sifa ni yule aliyetangulia kuaazisha huo mradi, ambayo ni makosa.

Jambo la pili ni kusema kwamba pesa za umma zinatumika kuanzisha hii miradi. Miradi hiyo isipokamilika ndio iwafaidi wananchi, basi pesa za umma zinapotea na kuwa wasted. Ni makosa sana kwa pesa za umma kupotea na kukosa kufaidi wananchi.

Bw. Naibu Spika, miradi ikianzishwa katika kaunti zetu na kukosa kukamilika au kutumika, basi inakuwa maendeleo yamesimama. Tujuavyo kama viongozi katika Seneti, sisi hutetea ukamilifu na ufanyakazi kwa ugatuzi. Kwa hivyo isipofanyika, basi inakuwa kwamba kazi yetu haijahalalishwa kikamilifu.

Wananchi wa Kenya wanapoteza pesa zao, maendeleo yanakosa kupatikana mashinani. Wananchi wanahangaika ilhali walipiga kura na wanalipa ushuru. Pesa ambazo wanatoa kwa kulipa ushuru zinapaswa kutimika kuleta maendeleo kwa wananchi. Kukosa maendeleo ni kupoteza pesa za wananchi jambo ambalo halistahili.

Bw. Naibu Spika, nitachangia kidogo kuhusu ripoti iliyoletwa na Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Kilimo, Ufugaji na Uvuvi.

Mimi ni mwanakamati wa Kamati ya Kilimo na Mifugo. Ni vibaya kwamba mgao wa fedha unaopaswa kuenda kwa Kamati ya Kilimo na Mifugo---

Can we now go to the next Order?

On a point of information, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

The Senator for Nandi wants to inform you. I do not know it is on what matters.

Would you wish to be informed.

Yes, on behalf of the Luhyas of Chesumei, who live and vote in Nandi County, I would love to be informed.

Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey.

I want to inform my good neighbour, Omwami the bullfighter, that as we talk, Nandi County Assembly is under siege. The people of Nandi are moving the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to commence impeachment proceedings against the inept governor, hon. Sang and remove him from office.

I assure you that there has also been some exchange of blows by MCAs. We must ensure devolution works by fire. I confirm that this House should be ready for an impeachment Motion against the Governor of Nandi County, Gov. Sang, in the next few weeks. From the intelligence I have---

What is the information that you wanted pass to Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale?

I want to confirm to him that it is true there is unrest in Nandi County because people are tired of bad governance and corruption that is being perpetuated by the Governor of Nandi County, hon. Sang.

I thank you.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am grateful. I was worried that somebody would shoot up and challenge me for quoting social media. Social media cannot stand in this House. So, the confirmation from the distinguished Senator for Nandi County that there is unrest in Nandi County, must be taken seriously, even more so by Sen. Osotsi and I because our cousins come from that county.

It is amazing that one of the voters in Nandi County gave me a copy of a payslip that showed a very close relative of the governor is drawing a salary of Kshs145,000 per month. I do not mind a governor’s relative working in the county. Our relatives can work in our offices. They are entitled to jobs in counties. However, when those relatives are over 60 years old, then it calls into question why they could be drawing a salary for not earning that money because they are not in employment. They are ghost workers.

I call out our governors on bad manners of the cost of foreign travel. The bill of foreign travel in this country by governors is amazing. The most travelled governors is the Governor of Nairobi City County, the Governor of Kakamega County and the Governor of Nandi County. Shame on you. What are they doing? Imagine the Governor of Kakamega County spent Kshs418,640,000 to fly around. Gov. Sang spent Kshs310 million. Even if their friends are in here and are uncomfortable about this truth, we will call them out.

What is the information that you wanted pass to Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am grateful. I was worried that somebody would shoot up and challenge me for quoting social media. Social media cannot stand in this House. So, the confirmation from the distinguished Senator for Nandi County that there is unrest in Nandi County, must be taken seriously, even more so by Sen. Osotsi and I because our cousins come from that county.

It is amazing that one of the voters in Nandi County gave me a copy of a payslip that showed a very close relative of the governor is drawing a salary of Kshs145,000 per month. I do not mind a governor’s relative working in the county. Our relatives can work in our offices. They are entitled to jobs in counties. However, when those relatives are over 60 years old, then it calls into question why they could be drawing a salary for not earning that money because they are not in employment. They are ghost workers.

I call out our governors on bad manners of the cost of foreign travel. The bill of foreign travel in this country by governors is amazing. The most travelled governors is the Governor of Nairobi City County, the Governor of Kakamega County and the Governor of Nandi County. Shame on you. What are they doing? Imagine the Governor of Kakamega County spent Kshs418,640,000 to fly around. Gov. Sang spent Kshs310 million. Even if their friends are in here and are uncomfortable about this truth, we will call them out.

Sen. (Dr.) Boni Khalwale, just use the statistics from the CoB. Forget those from the media and the social media.

Leave those London stories you read and stick to the CoB report. You were doing well.

According to the CoB, Machakos County splashed Kshs193.85 million on having fun and the CoB cannot understand why they are wasting this money. The number one abuser according to this report is FCPA Fernandes Barasa. He spent Kshs521 million - half a billion shillings - on buying mandazi, lunch, water and soda in the office. It is not possible to spend---

Give him 30 seconds to pronounce himself on his position.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I oppose any attempt to reduce the money this House allocated to counties, Kshs415 billion.

Next is Sen. Sifuna Edwine.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to oppose the proposal to review the division of revenue, the amount of money that this House allocated to county governments from the Kshs415 billion that we passed to Kshs380 billion.

I was listening to my brother, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, praising his Governor for paying pending bills of Kshs771 million. However, I was wondering whether he had seen that report he has mentioned it. That Kakamega County spent Kshs521 million on buying tea and mandazi for Fernandes Barasa and his friends. These are the governors who create justification for why the Government proposes such bills.

This bad behaviour that Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale is referring to is not widespread across the country. There are county governments that are doing their best, serving and delivering to their people. However, governors like Dr. Khalwale’s Governor, hon. Fernandes Barasa, who spent half a billion shillings on tea and mandazi are the people who make it difficult for us to push for further resources to go to counties.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also have another Governor whom I will call my mother’s Governor, the Governor of Bungoma. He went after the Senator for Bungoma, insulting this entire Senate, that we have no role in making sure that governors or county governments get the money they deserve, yet, it is us here today who have to stand up and defend devolution, saying that, not a shilling less from the Kshs415 billion we passed here in this House.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I oppose any attempt to reduce the money this House allocated to counties, Kshs415 billion.

Next is Sen. Sifuna Edwine.

It is on record that last year, even after the Commission on Revenue Allocation had proposed that we, in this Senate, give counties Kshs415 billion, we only gave Kshs385 billion for the last financial year.

This Bill proposes a figure of Kshs380 billion, which is Kshs5 billion less than the amount sent to the counties last year. As the Democrats in the U.S. are now saying, we are not going back. We must push this journey of devolution forward. We cannot go back to Kshs380 billion because to do so. Next year, we will give them Kshs370 billion to counties because the enemies of devolution continue to gather.

At some point, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, if we are not careful, we will be told it is Kshs300 billion, then Kshs250 billion, then Kshs200 billion. Then, we will be told all these functions will be transferred back to the national Government.

As people sworn in to defend devolution; it is my view that as the pocket of devolution shrinks, even so, the role of this Senate and the role of Senators. If we expand the pocket of devolution, we, as Senators, will get a greater mandate because we are overseeing or oversighting greater resources.

Before I go to the disbursement schedule, this Kshs400 billion mark, those of you who have been in this House before me, know that it is a psychological mark that has been difficult to break.

Since the advent of devolution, this fourth Senate has breached that target of Kshs400 billion. We all took pride in the fact that we were the first Senators to be able to push the envelope of devolution beyond Kshs400 billion. For us to then sit again and reduce it is something that I believe we cannot allow.

In my view, the law already anticipates how to deal with shortfalls. I do not refuse that because of the Finance Act and the fact that the President had to return it; it has resulted in a shortfall in the provisions for the budget that we had this year.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, how do you justify going below the amount allocated in the previous financial year? We all know that with the collapse of Finance Bill 2024 or the Finance Act of 2024, we reverted to tax-raising measures of 2023, which supported the Kshs385 million. I want to hear a justification for why we would fall below the figure of Kshs385 to Kshs380 billion.

This morning, because I am a Member of the Senate Business Committee together with the Senate Majority Leader, we discussed the cuts in the Senate budgets. We did not complain. Even Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale did not complain when we were told that the budgets of the Senate were being cut by 20 per cent because of the revenue shortfalls in the projections in the Finance Act.

It is okay. We do not have a problem with cuts to the Senate or Parliament as an institution. Parliament as an institution has been told we have to cut Kshs3 billion. The figure is slightly over Kshs3.5 billion in our budget, which is okay. We can make do with that. However, we cannot afford to take a step back for the people waiting for services at the grassroots, in the counties.

I will give you an example. As the Senator of Nairobi City County, I was proud that, for the first time, the county would receive above Kshs20 billion in its shareable revenue.

We have a programme in Nairobi City County called a school feeding programme, which gobbles up almost 10 per cent of the entire amount we receive as equitable

revenue. Unfortunately, although that programme is expressed to cost nearly Kshs1.8 billion, it is sufficient to serve 30 per cent of the children of Nairobi, leaving a whopping 70 per cent of the children of Nairobi outside that programme.

Now, the promise by the governor is that he plans to expand it so that it can feed all the children of Nairobi by extending it to the so-called up-bed schools, informal schools that carry the majority of the school-going children in Nairobi. We need money. In Nairobi, we need money.

I know Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale has praised my governor for the revenue-raising measures that have been put in place. Still, we have come nowhere close to the potential of Nairobi as per the estimates from even the CoB herself. So, we need money in Nairobi City County.

The most heartbreaking thing for me when I came to this Senate was to discover that you can actually be allocated money in a budget, but receiving it is a different story altogether. We passed the disbursement schedule, which National Treasury has never honoured. What is the point of us passing things here that nobody ever follows?

The exchequer, money hitting the county government's account, is a hit-or-miss game. It is just pata potea. You can go for three, two or four months without money and you do not know when it will come. So, it has been disappointing for me to realise that we can put up this fight, and yet, at the end of the day, this money will not reach the grassroots level in the manner it is proposed to reach.

It is on record that last year, even after the Commission on Revenue Allocation had proposed that we, in this Senate, give counties Kshs415 billion, we only gave Kshs385 billion for the last financial year.

This Bill proposes a figure of Kshs380 billion, which is Kshs5 billion less than the amount sent to the counties last year. As the Democrats in the U.S. are now saying, we are not going back. We must push this journey of devolution forward. We cannot go back to Kshs380 billion because to do so. Next year, we will give them Kshs370 billion to counties because the enemies of devolution continue to gather.

At some point, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, if we are not careful, we will be told it is Kshs300 billion, then Kshs250 billion, then Kshs200 billion. Then, we will be told all these functions will be transferred back to the national Government.

As people sworn in to defend devolution; it is my view that as the pocket of devolution shrinks, even so, the role of this Senate and the role of Senators. If we expand the pocket of devolution, we, as Senators, will get a greater mandate because we are overseeing or oversighting greater resources.

Before I go to the disbursement schedule, this Kshs400 billion mark, those of you who have been in this House before me, know that it is a psychological mark that has been difficult to break.

Since the advent of devolution, this fourth Senate has breached that target of Kshs400 billion. We all took pride in the fact that we were the first Senators to be able to push the envelope of devolution beyond Kshs400 billion. For us to then sit again and reduce it is something that I believe we cannot allow.

In my view, the law already anticipates how to deal with shortfalls. I do not refuse that because of the Finance Act and the fact that the President had to return it; it has resulted in a shortfall in the provisions for the budget that we had this year.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, how do you justify going below the amount allocated in the previous financial year? We all know that with the collapse of Finance Bill 2024 or the Finance Act of 2024, we reverted to tax-raising measures of 2023, which supported the Kshs385 million. I want to hear a justification for why we would fall below the figure of Kshs385 to Kshs380 billion.

This morning, because I am a Member of the Senate Business Committee together with the Senate Majority Leader, we discussed the cuts in the Senate budgets. We did not complain. Even Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale did not complain when we were told that the budgets of the Senate were being cut by 20 per cent because of the revenue shortfalls in the projections in the Finance Act.

It is okay. We do not have a problem with cuts to the Senate or Parliament as an institution. Parliament as an institution has been told we have to cut Kshs3 billion. The figure is slightly over Kshs3.5 billion in our budget, which is okay. We can make do with that. However, we cannot afford to take a step back for the people waiting for services at the grassroots, in the counties.

I will give you an example. As the Senator of Nairobi City County, I was proud that, for the first time, the county would receive above Kshs20 billion in its shareable revenue.

We have a programme in Nairobi City County called a school feeding programme, which gobbles up almost 10 per cent of the entire amount we receive as equitable

Sen. Mungatana?

Sorry, Sen. Mungatana. Just hold. Kindly resume your seat.

Let me allow Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale to first table that report, so that you can take the Floor.

Sen. Mungatana?

Asante, Bw. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipa nafasi ya kuonge---

Sorry, Sen. Mungatana. Just hold. Kindly resume your seat.

Let me allow Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale to first table that report, so that you can take the Floor.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. My apologies on behalf of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget of the Senate. The printout of this report has been slow. It is now available.

I now formally rise to beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of this Senate- Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 38 of 2024) .

I thank you and invite Members to collect their copies before they debate.

Sen. Mungatana, you can now take the Floor and contribute to the Bill.

Asante Bw. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa nafasi nitoe maoni yangu kuhusu Mswada huu wa ugavi wa pesa kati ya Serikali kuu na serikali za kaunti. Jambo tunalolizungumzia leo linahusu kupunguzwa kwa huu mgao. Tulipitisha Serikali kuu itapata mgao wake na serikali za kaunti zitapata shilingi 400.1 bilioni. Sasa tunaletewa Mswada wa kupunguza hizi pesa za mgao wa serikali za kaunti kutoka Kshs400.1 bilioni.

Mimi kama Seneta wa Kaunti ya Tana River ninakataa na kupinga pendekezo la kujaribu kupunguza mgao wa serikali za kaunti. Hii ni kwa sababu, Katiba inasema tuko na Serikali katika viwango viwili. Kuna kiwango cha Serikali kuu na majukumu yake. Vile vile, tuko na kiwango cha serikali za kaunti na majukumu yake.

Ni makosa kwamba Serikali kuu iendelee kuishi vizuri huku serikali za kaunti zikifinywa. Tukiendelesha mafikira kama haya na kuunga mkono Mswada kama huu, ni sawa na kuchukua mamlaka yetu kama Maseneta ya kupigania haki za kaunti na kuyatupa baharini.

Tunaomba Katiba na serikali za kaunti zieshimiwe. Kuna wengine wamesema kuna sehemu za kaunti zinatumia pesa vibaya. Wanajaribu kutumia fikira hizoo kupunguza pesa zinazoenda kwa kaunti zetu. Ningependa kujibu hivi. Mambo ya utumizi mbaya wa fedha yawekwe tofauti na mgao wa pesa zinazopaswa kwenda kwa kaunti.

Utumizi mbaya wa fedha uko na njia mwafaka wa kushughulikiwa. Kuna sheria inayopaswa

kufuata. Wanaohusika watakamatwa. Uchunguzi utafanywa na watakaopatikina na hatia watachukuliwa hatua za kisheria. Hivyo basi, swala hili la utumizi mbaya wa fedha za kaunti isiwe sababu ya kupunguza fedha zinazoenda kwa upande wa ugatuzi.

Ukiangalia ule mgao unaoenda kwa Serikali kuu pia uko na shida. Kila mtu anajua. Ripoti za Mdhibiti wa Bajeti zinasema shida ya ufujaji wa pesa pia uko katika Serikali kuu. Kwa hivyo, hakuna haki ya kutumia mawazo hiyo kupunguza mgao wa kaunti.

Ninajua Maseneta wote tulio hapa tunapigania kaunti zetu zipate mgao wao. Tumezungumza na kupitisha haya. Kwa hivyo, mtu yoyote, kamati, sheria au hoja yoyote itakayokuja nyuma kukiuka kile tulipitisha na kuwatangazia watu wetu kule mashinani. Tutawaambia nini?

Watu husema, jungu kuu halikosi ukoko. Kati ya serikali za kaunti na Serikali kuu, njungu kuu ni serikali kuu. Kama ingekuwa kuna mahali pa kupunguzwa pesa, zingefaa zipunguzwe kwa upande wa Serikali kuu na sio kwa mgao wa serikali za kaunti.

Magavana katika CoG siku zote wanalia kwamba hata ule mgao tunaopigania hapa hautoshi. Ni kweli serikali zetu za kaunti ziko na shida hata ya kulipa wafanyikazi. Mara nyingine, mishahara hukosa kulipwa kwa muda wa hata miezi miwili. Wafanyibiashara waliofanya na serikali za kaunti pia hawajalipwa.

Sasa kama hali ndio hiyo, itakuwaje tena turudishiwe Mswada huu tuambiwe tupunguze tena mgao tulioupitisha na tukakubaliana unakwenda kwa serikali za kaunti?

Hivyo basi, kama kuna kupunguza pesa kwa sehemu yoyote kwa hii bajeti kwa sababu ya shida zilizotokea, jungu kuu halikosi ukoko. Kwa hivyo, hii Serikali ya kuu ndio ingebeba huo msalaba na sio kuupeleka kwa serikali za kaunti ambazo tayari mgao wao hautoshelezi mahitaji yaliyoko kwa hizi serikali 47.

Kwa hivyo, napinga kupunguzwa huu mgao. Nawaomba Maseneta wezangu kutoka kila sehemu ya gatuzi zote 47 tupinge na kusema ya kwamba, kama kuna kupunguzwa pesa zozote, mgao unaofaa kupunguzwa ni wa upande wa Serikali kuu.

Kwa hayo mengi, naupinga Mswada huu.

Asante sana, Sen. Mungatana. Sen. Osotsi?

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to also make my contribution to this Bill. I fully agree with my colleagues who have spoken before me that passing this Bill in the form it is in is actually taking away our powers as Senate. Article 96 of the Constitution gives us the powers to protect our counties and their governments.

This particular amendment threatens Article 96 of the Constitution because it means that the national Government will vary the equitable share within the fiscal year without making reference to Parliament, particularly the Senate. I join my colleagues who have opposed this Bill. I clearly state that I am opposed to this amendment trying to reduce the shareable revenue from Kshs415 billion to Kshs380 billion which is an issue that we should not take lightly.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you know very well that we made a decision through the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget to give our counties Kshs415 billion. When we passed the Division of Revenue Act and it was taken to the National Assembly, we were ready to go through mediation process. However, we accepted a lower figure of Kshs400 billion shillings.

The reasons that made us accept a lower figure of Kshs400 billion, are the same reasons that they are stating such as the issues of shortfall in revenue. We cannot again go below the Kshs400 billion to Kshs385 billion. I say so because of the following reasons.

First, Sen. Sifuna has stated very clearly that we cannot do the process of sharing revenue twice or thrice in a year. The Constitution allows us to do it once and we already did that.

We cannot be brought back here to be told to go through the same process. Secondly, since the financial year 2014/2015, the percentage equitable share compared to the ordinary revenues has been going down. We started at 22 per cent. Now, we are at

Sen. Osotsi, you raised something with regard to a Motion that you tabled in the last Session. By practise and as a ranking Member who served in the National Assembly, you know that a Motion lapses with the Session. So, if your Motion was not concluded or not approved, then you have to refile it afresh for it to be processed accordingly.

Thank you very much. Sen. (Dr.) Murango, James Kamau, proceed.

Asante sana, Bw. Spika wa Muda. Kwanza, nasimama kuunga mkono ripoti iliyoletwa na Kamati ya Fedha na Bajeti inayoashiria kwamba tusipunguze pesa zinazoenda kwenye gatuzi zetu kutoka shilingi 400 bilioni mpaka shilingi 380 bilioni.

Lazima tutofautishe kati ya pesa ambazo tunapeleka kwa gatuzi zetu za Kenya na yale ambayo yanakuja. Ndio maana tuko na kamati mbili; moja ikiwa ya County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) na ingine ya PICSF za kuangalia kwamba kila kaunti inatumia pesa zake inavyostahili.

Siku ya leo, tumekuwa na ripoti nyingi. Nimekuwa na ripoti ambayo imetoka kwa Kamati ya CPAC na nikasoma kuhusu vile Kaunti ya Kirinyaga inatumia pesa na mahali wanafaa kurekebisha.

Kuna mambo mengi ambayo hayajafanyika katika gatuzi zetu. Utapata barabara bado hazijatengenezwa na hospitali zetu hazina madawa. Kuna baadhi ya watoto wetu ambao hawajapata bursary wanavyopaswa kupata. Pia, malipo ya walimu wengi, sana sana wa shule za chekechea, ni duni katika gatuzi zingine.

Kwa hivyo, Bunge la Taifa kusema kwamba tupunguze pesa za kaunti kutoka shilingi bilioni 400 hadi shilingi bilioni 380 ni makosa na dhuluma kwa kaunti zetu. Tunatarajia mambo yatakuwa mazuri, hasa upande wa kilimo na ndio maana tulipitisha Mswada wa kuongeza pesa hizo hadi shilingi bilioni 400.

Nilikuwa natarajia kwamba kutakuwa na mabadiliko ili kusaidia wakulima kwa sababu ya pembejeo. Pisa hizo zilifaa kuwasaidia wakulima wa ng’ombe wa maziwa na majani chai ili waweze kuendeleza kilimo chao. Kwa hivyo, tukipunguza, tutapatia kaunti zetu sababu za kusema kwa nini hawakuweza kufanya hivyo.

The Division of Revenue Act (DORA) inasema kwamba kunapokuwa na upungufu wakati wa kukadiria bajeti, Serikali kuu itawajibika kujaza pengo ambalo litakuwa limeachwa wakati wa bajeti ya ziada. Kwa hivyo, siyo haki kupunguza pesa za kaunti kwa kiwango hicho ambacho kinapendekezwa na Bunge la Taifa.

Kazi kubwa ya Seneti ni kulinda ugatuzi na ndio maana tuko hapa. Kulinda ugatuzi ni kuhakikisha kwamba fedha zinazokusudiwa kwenda katika kaunti zetu zinatumwa ipasavyo. Tushavalia njuga suala hili kwa sababu tuliketi na kupitisha. Kwa hivyo, naomba pesa ziende mashinani jinsi tulivyokuwa tumesema.

Bw. Spika wa Muda, napinga kupunguzwa kwa fedha ambazo zitaenda katika kaunti zetu. Naunga mkono ripoti ilioletwa hapa na Kamati ya Seneti ya Fedha na Bajeti kusema kwamba fedha zitakazoenda katika kaunti zetu zibaki shilingi bilioni 400 wala siyo shilingi bilioni 380.

Pesa hizo zinapoenda kule, tunaomba magavana wawajibike. Kama kuna watu waastarabu ni Maseneta. Tunatetea na kupitisha pesa za kwenda katika kaunti zetu ilhali hatuhusishwi katika kujua jinsi zinavyotumika. Heshima tunayoweza kupewa na kaunti zetu ni kuhakikisha kwamba wanatumia pesa tunazopigania kwa njia inayofaa kufikia “Wanjiku”.

Kikwetu, kuna msemo kuhusu anayekama na yule anayetoa kombamwiko kwenye maziwa ili watoto wanywe. Sisi Maseneta tushafanya kazi ya kukama. Magavana na Wawakilishi wa Wadi wanatoa tu kombamwiko kwenye maziwa ili wakazi wajivunie matunda ya ugatuzi na kupata huduma inavyopaswa.

Kwa hayo mengi, Bw. Spika wa Muda, naunga mkono ripoti ya Kamati ya Fedha na Bajeti.

Proceed,

tumepitisha pesa za juu, sisi tumesema tunataka shilingi bilioni 400 ziende katika serikali za ugatuzi.

Naunga mkono kamati yetu iliyofanya kazi njema. Nawatakia kila la heri waweze kusimama kidete pale pale waliposimama.

barabara, shule za chekechea na maendeleo kadha wa kadha wanayotakikana waendelee nayo.

Ni sisi tunaoelewa shida ambayo zinakuba serikali za ugatuzi na kazi zetu tulizonazo hapa. Ikiwa nitakupa taarifa, niruhusu niseme kwamba Kipengele cha 96, sheria ya kwanza, inasema kuwa kazi kubwa ya Seneta ni kuwakilisha kaunti na pia kuleta mahitaji ya kaunti ya ugatuzi na kulinda maslahi hayo.

Hii ni kazi ambayo inahitaji uangalifu na udhalilifu wa hali ya juu sana kuona ya kwamba mahitaji haya yameweza kupatikana. Lakini cha muhimu zaidi kulingana na Mswada huu ambao upo mbele yetu, ni Kipengele cha 96(5) ambacho kinaongea juu ya taratibu za Seneti katika kazi zake

Seneti inaweza kujadili na kusaidia kuona ya kwamba imeongeza zile pesa ambazo zinatakikana kutoka katika kitita cha hazina ya Serikali kuu na kinachopelekwa katika serikali za ugatuzi. Natuhakikishe pesa ambazo zinagawanywa, kila kaunti ipate haki yake na pesa hizo zitumiwe vyema. Hivi leo, tunaambiwa tupunguze pesa hizi mpaka zifike shilingi bilioni 350.

Mimi nimekuwa ndani ya Bunge hili tokea lianze. Ninasema kuwa kama taratibu ya Seneta ambaye anajua historia ya Seneti hii. Kitu cha kwanza unachostahili kufanya ukitaka hawa maseneta wote waende nyumbani ni kupinga kuongezwa kwa pesa zitakazokwenda katika serikali za mashinani.

Bw. Naibu Spika, hili ni onyo kubwa sana kwa sababu ukiangalia wote huweza kupoteza hiyo nafasi kwa sababu ya kitu kimoja tu, umekukosa kupeleka pesa nyumbani. Hivi sasa, kila Seneta hapa anajukumu lake la kuweza kuchukua nafasi hiyo kuonekana ya kwamba yeye amefanya bidii ndani ya Seneti na amepeleka hizo pesa nyumbani.

Jambo la kusikitisha ni kwamba ikiwa huu Mswada utapitishwa vile ulivyo na tunawatuma hawa wenzetu ambao watatuwakilisha pale katika majadiliano haya, kuona ya kwamba wamesita, wameweka miguu yao kisawasawa kwa kusimama kidete na wasikubali hizi pesa ziweze kupunguzwa. Zikipuunguzwa, hatari itakuwa kwa watu waliochaguliwa kama Maseneta hapa kwa sababu wana swali la kujibu kule wanapotoka katika serikali za ugatuzi.

Bw. Spika wa Muda, nataka kumalizia nikisema kwamba shida za serikali za ugatuzi ni nyingi sana. Hivi sasa tunaona ya kwamba hata mishahara katika serikali za ugatuzi haijalipwa.

Watu kule pia kama vile wafanyakazi wana haja za kulipa na kuna mengi ambayo wanatakikana kufanya kama wafanyakazi. Majukumu yote yanafanywa na serikali za ugatuzi. Kulipwa mishahara ni haki ya wafanyakazi.

Hivi sasa utaona wako wasichana na wavulana ambao wameachishwa shule. Wengine wameshidwa kuenda vyuo vikuu kwa sababu baba zao bado hawajalipwa pesa. Ikiwa sasa hawajalipwa, itakuwaje sasa ikiwa hizi pesa zitapunguzwa?

Hii ni kwamba sasa, hata kwa familia kama mtu mmoja alikuwa haendi shule, basi watoto wengine pia watafuata hiyo kauli. Hii ni kwa sababu hakuna pesa katika familia na lazima wao pia wakae nyumbani wasiende shule.

Jambo ambalo nataka kusisitiza zaidi ni kwamba tusirudi nyuma. Tuangalie safari ya kuenda mbele. Tabia hii ya kuletewa Mswada na wale wenzetu na kusema kwamba

tumepitisha pesa za juu, sisi tumesema tunataka shilingi bilioni 400 ziende katika serikali za ugatuzi.

Naunga mkono kamati yetu iliyofanya kazi njema. Nawatakia kila la heri waweze kusimama kidete pale pale waliposimama.

Thank you, Sen. Madzayo. Proceed, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda.

what they should do according to our proposal, is remove that Kshs20 billion from the national Government’s share. That is a manageable amount such that, when it cuts across different Ministries, it will be minimal and could even range between Kshs1.5 billion to Kshs2 billion reduction, unlike removing a whopping Kshs20 billion from the county governments.

The remaining amount of about Kshs2.2 trillion will be enough to cut across, looking at the other factors I had mentioned earlier like the CHPs, NSSF contributions, annual increment and all others. However, with this reduction, counties will be affected massively.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, earlier on, we heard the statement by Sen. Kavindu with regard to stalled projects. I rose and stated that the issue of stalled projects cuts across all the 47 counties. It is not only one county. What brings these issues?

It is where we are, where budgets have been made and where these projects have already started and kicked off. These projects end up stalling. First, there is no value for money. At the same time, people cannot enjoy the project or the developments within that particular region.

Issues of pending bills now crop up because investors have put their money, they cannot be paid fully, and the project is halfway. Also, issues are right, left and centre because monies are insufficient or have been adjusted. The county assemblies do have budgets; they have budget challenges and they face problems.

Yes, I agree we have a big thorn in terms of the pending bills, but not all counties are experiencing the same. I know and acknowledge that Nairobi City County has the biggest pending bills. In this additional allocation, Nairobi City County was to receive Kshs20 billion more.

The pending bills are about Kshs100 billion. Since we have seen an increase in their own source revenue and allocation to counties, they would probably focus on reducing their pending bills if the money is not reduced.

Mr. Temporary, Speaker, Sir, as I finish, in the Senate Business Committee today where I do sit. We looked at the Cabinet Secretaries appearing before this House next week. If I am not wrong, I am happy because the Cabinet Secretary for Finance will appear to respond to some of the questions.

The former Cabinet Secretary was active in the committee, but never appeared in the House. I look forward to the current Cabinet Secretary's appearance. As a new Cabinet Secretary, he will understand this Senate and address most of the issues we have always raised in his Ministry.

One of those key issues is the delayed disbursements to the counties. The last time he appeared, as I have said earlier, we raised the concern of Regulation 134 of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, which allows the National Treasury to disburse 50 per cent of the equitable share revenue when we are in the situation we are in.

Division of Revenue Bill was passed, but we are now at the amendment stage. The law is clear. He communicated that he would consult with the Attorney General to advise the Committee if that could take place.

I am so happy because today, we, as a Committee, have received a response that has also been shared with the committee on the response and the advice of the current

Attorney General, Madam Dorcas Oduor, who has advised straightforwardly that in the absence of the County Allocation of Revenue Act, the disbursement will be held up to 50 per cent of the total equitable share allocated.

The Cabinet Secretary has confirmed that he will disburse Kshs32 billion to the counties before the end of this month. When he appears before this House, I will ask and request colleagues to also affirm that, so that our counties receive their share.

Emphasis on ensuring timely disbursements is in place. At the same time, our people, the staff working at the counties, will receive their salaries on time. This issue of employees not having salaries within more than two or three months is sickening because then how do we avoid corruption?

How can you be seated transacting huge sums, millions of monies, and you cannot be paid? This is where then some of these issues start taking place.

As we conclude these amendments to this discussion for the Division of Revenue Bill, the colleagues that will sit in the mediation committee will support the Kshs401 billion.

We have explained in detail. I am happy that the first time when the Senate Majority Leader was tabling this, he said that the committees are always best suited because they interact deeply with the Bill. They look at the nitty-gritty of the issues. That is why we rejected those amendments.

We hope that the mediation committee will respect and understand that. Otherwise then, will be killing devolution.

Thank you.

what they should do according to our proposal, is remove that Kshs20 billion from the national Government’s share. That is a manageable amount such that, when it cuts across different Ministries, it will be minimal and could even range between Kshs1.5 billion to Kshs2 billion reduction, unlike removing a whopping Kshs20 billion from the county governments.

The remaining amount of about Kshs2.2 trillion will be enough to cut across, looking at the other factors I had mentioned earlier like the CHPs, NSSF contributions, annual increment and all others. However, with this reduction, counties will be affected massively.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, earlier on, we heard the statement by Sen. Kavindu with regard to stalled projects. I rose and stated that the issue of stalled projects cuts across all the 47 counties. It is not only one county. What brings these issues?

It is where we are, where budgets have been made and where these projects have already started and kicked off. These projects end up stalling. First, there is no value for money. At the same time, people cannot enjoy the project or the developments within that particular region.

Issues of pending bills now crop up because investors have put their money, they cannot be paid fully, and the project is halfway. Also, issues are right, left and centre because monies are insufficient or have been adjusted. The county assemblies do have budgets; they have budget challenges and they face problems.

Yes, I agree we have a big thorn in terms of the pending bills, but not all counties are experiencing the same. I know and acknowledge that Nairobi City County has the biggest pending bills. In this additional allocation, Nairobi City County was to receive Kshs20 billion more.

The pending bills are about Kshs100 billion. Since we have seen an increase in their own source revenue and allocation to counties, they would probably focus on reducing their pending bills if the money is not reduced.

Mr. Temporary, Speaker, Sir, as I finish, in the Senate Business Committee today where I do sit. We looked at the Cabinet Secretaries appearing before this House next week. If I am not wrong, I am happy because the Cabinet Secretary for Finance will appear to respond to some of the questions.

The former Cabinet Secretary was active in the committee, but never appeared in the House. I look forward to the current Cabinet Secretary's appearance. As a new Cabinet Secretary, he will understand this Senate and address most of the issues we have always raised in his Ministry.

One of those key issues is the delayed disbursements to the counties. The last time he appeared, as I have said earlier, we raised the concern of Regulation 134 of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, which allows the National Treasury to disburse 50 per cent of the equitable share revenue when we are in the situation we are in.

Division of Revenue Bill was passed, but we are now at the amendment stage. The law is clear. He communicated that he would consult with the Attorney General to advise the Committee if that could take place.

I am so happy because today, we, as a Committee, have received a response that has also been shared with the committee on the response and the advice of the current

Attorney General, Madam Dorcas Oduor, who has advised straightforwardly that in the absence of the County Allocation of Revenue Act, the disbursement will be held up to 50 per cent of the total equitable share allocated.

The Cabinet Secretary has confirmed that he will disburse Kshs32 billion to the counties before the end of this month. When he appears before this House, I will ask and request colleagues to also affirm that, so that our counties receive their share.

Emphasis on ensuring timely disbursements is in place. At the same time, our people, the staff working at the counties, will receive their salaries on time. This issue of employees not having salaries within more than two or three months is sickening because then how do we avoid corruption?

How can you be seated transacting huge sums, millions of monies, and you cannot be paid? This is where then some of these issues start taking place.

As we conclude these amendments to this discussion for the Division of Revenue Bill, the colleagues that will sit in the mediation committee will support the Kshs401 billion.

We have explained in detail. I am happy that the first time when the Senate Majority Leader was tabling this, he said that the committees are always best suited because they interact deeply with the Bill. They look at the nitty-gritty of the issues. That is why we rejected those amendments.

We hope that the mediation committee will respect and understand that. Otherwise then, will be killing devolution.

Thank you.

Sen. Faki.

Asante, Bw. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa fursa hii nichangie Mswada wa marekebisho ya sheria ya DORA. Kwanza kabisa naunga mkono ripoti ya Kamati ya Fedha na Bajeti ya Bunge hili kuhusiana na kuangalia kwao kwa Mswada huo wa marekebisho ya DORA.

Sheria ya DORA ilipitishwa mapema mwaka huu. Kiwango cha pesa zinazotakikana kwenda kwa kaunti zetu kwa mwaka huu wa 2024/2025 ni shilingi bilioni

Sen. Faki, allow the Chair to keep them in order so that you can proceed. Sen. Veronica Maina and Sen. Wamatinga, if you are consulting, kindly do so, in low tones. Order, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda.

Proceed Sen. Faki.

Asante, Bw. Spika wa Muda. Ningeomba pia Sen. Orwoba aweze kuchukua kiti chake.

Thank you. Tukiangalia mambo ya msingi ambayo kaunti zetu zinafaa kufanya kwa sasa yamewekwa nyuma na wanafanya mambo ambayo sio ya msingi.

Kwa mfano, utapata katika kaunti nyingi, hospitali au zahanati, hazina madawa. Madaktari wanachelewa kulipwa mishahara yao. Wale CHPs ambao wameajiriwa ili wasaidie kupeleka huduma za afya mashinani hawalipwi mishahara yao kwa wakati unaofaa. Hii inamaanisha kwamba huduma zinadorora katika kaunti zetu.

Hakuna soko mpya ama ECDE ambazo zinajengwa. Haya yote yanatuonyesha kwamba ugatuzi unapungua kasi kuliko ulivyotarajiwa kukuwa kutoka mwaka wa 2013 mpaka 2022. Kupunguza hizi fedha ambazo zitatarajiwa kuja kwa kaunti zetu zitachangia pakubwa kudorora zaidi kwa huduma katika kaunti zile.

Tumezungumzia masuala ya MES. Mradi huu ulikuwa mzuri. Lakini vile vifaa vyote ambavyo vilinunuliwa vinakaribia kufika ukingoni na haviwezi kutoa huduma baada ya miaka kumi kutoka mradi huu uzinduliwe. Hivyo basi, kuna haja ya kubadilisha vifaa vipya. Kwa mfano, sehemu ambazo mashine za dialysis zilikuwa zinatumika zinafaa kupewa mashine mpya kwa sababu miaka kumi inaenda kuisha.

Pia zile software zinazotumika katika mashine hizo zimebadilika kutokana na mambo mapya kuingia katika mitindo ya kuziendesha. Wanafaa kuwekeza kwenye mashine mpya ili ziendelee kutoa huduma kwa wananchi katika sehemu zile. Iwapo hizi fedha zitapunguzwa ina maana kwamba miradi yote ambayo inatarajiwa kufanywa na kaunti zile itakoma. Hivyo basi, wananchi watakosa huduma muhimu katika kaunti zetu.

Serikali ilisema kwamba itapunguza ubadhirifu. Hata hivyo, tabia hiyo bado ipo. Bado kuna safari za nje kwa Mawaziri na ofisi zingine kubwa za Serikali. Fedha zinapotea kiholela katika mashirika na Wizara ambazo the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) inachukua muda kuwapeleka mahakamani wanaohusika katika ubadhirifu wa fedha.

Sio sawa kupunguza fedha ambazo zitapelikwa katika kaunti zetu. Lazima Serikali ijifunge kibwebwe na kuhakikisha kwamba inakusanya shilingi trilioni 2.6 kama ilivyonuia. Wahakikishe kwamba hakuna fedha zinazopangwa kwenda katika kaunti zetu zinapunguzwa.

Wakati Wanakamati walipokuwa wanachunguza Mswada huu, tulipata maoni kutoka mashirika mengi ikiwemo Baraza la Magavana, yani CoG. Wengi walikataa kupunguzwa kwa fedha hizo kwa sababu inamaanisha kwamba huduma katika kaunti zetu zitadorora.

Bw. Spika wa Muda, napinga Mswada huu wa kurekebisha the DORA. Vilevile, wamesema kwamba Bunge lina uwezo wa kubadilisha the DORA. Hatukatai kwamba sheria zinazopitishwa zinaweza kubadilishwa na Bunge hili na Bunge la Taifa.

Iwapo kaunti zetu zitafanya mipango yao ya mwaka na bajeti kusomwa na kupitishwa, haitakuwa vizuri Mswada wa kupunguza fedha zitakazokwenda katika kaunti zetu kuletwa katikati ya mwaka. Iwapo kuna marekebisho yoyote, yanafaa kufanywa kabla ya the DORA pamoja na the County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA) kupitishwa katika Seneti.

Thank you, Sen. Faki. Next is Sen. Wahome Wamatinga.

I do remember the allocation of Kshs401 billion was historic. A billion past the Kshs400 billion mark. However, as we pass this historic mark, we must also come strongly and put mechanisms in place that ensure that money does not go to waste.

It is the role of this House; it is the responsibility of this House, as much as we are denied adequate resources to ensure that we do effective oversight. We must condemn the things that these governors are doing.

Today in the morning, I read an article about counties that have blown hundreds of millions of shillings with foreign travel. You are left wondering, what is the similarity between our counties and the country of Singapore that every county government insists on taking MCAs to benchmark?

It is time we are called to be rational spenders. As much as we know that we raise this money through revenue collected from the taxpayers, we must stand for our people so that they can get value for money.

It is high time that this House started to name and shame those counties that are blowing billions of shillings with foreign travel. Those who are blowing millions of shillings through tea and mandazis, as has been said by my colleague. It is time we shame and name them.

It is time that as we push through with austerity measures, it must go down to the county governments. Why would someone want to take a whole county assembly to Arusha, Tanzania, to do training, when they can get that training here locally?

As I sit down, I want to urge my colleagues and as we push for Kshs401 allocation to our counties, let us open our eyes and move with speed, so that we ensure that we leave a mark as the Senate that ensured prudent utilisation of public resources. We must ensure this is done in a way that will be effective, especially in the health, agriculture and other sectors, so that we leave a mark and a huge footprint in this country.

I want to commend the Standing Committee on Finance for a job well done. It is time that we stand for what is right. This country must stand for what is right. As we do so, Senators must put their best foot forward and say that we protect devolution as much as we protect the implementation and utilization of the resources that are allocated to the county governments.

I support the amendments as proposed by the committee.

Indeed, we, as the Senate, have the responsibility and obligation to the voters to ensure that we do not only protect devolution, but also promote it. The only way to do so is by ensuring that counties get their allocations on time and that all the functions that are devolved are followed by resources.

The recommendations by the Committee on Finance and Budget to reject the reduction of the monies allocated to the counties is not only welcome, but also an important step. While we Senators are trying to ensure that devolution succeeds, we must also ensure that money is allocated to the counties, just like it is done to the national Government.

As said by my colleagues, it is sad that most counties are still suffering the burden of huge pending bills. This is as a result of many counties overestimating their own source revenue. Governors want to appear like they are performing well whereas they know well that they do not meet targets.

As we fight and ask the national Government to increase the allocation to county governments, we must also push governors to ensure that transparency, accountability and governance issues that go with it are also taken into consideration.

We know that many county governments have problems of huge pending bills. It is not because contractors or suppliers did not supply, but because their priorities are upside-down such that successive governors who come to office fail to honour.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as Senators, as we keep on fighting for this allocation. However, we must also set in motion a mechanism that will ensure that all those counties that have pending bills are made in line with the law to ensure that the first charge of their allocation goes to the pending bills.

Indeed, looking at the number of Kenyans who have worked for the counties, be it as contractors, or those who supply goods, suffer the same way as the county employees who do not get paid on time.

Another area that we must address and look at is health. Health services have suffered for a very long time because many governors and county governments have not prioritized the provision of health services. It is not a priority for many of them.

It may surprise you to see a county governor allocating empowerment programmes to different groups, but also ensuring that those groups cannot get any medication from the hospitals in the county because it does not give enough resources.

We, therefore, must put a mechanism in place to ensure that as the counties get allocation, as the budgets are fixed, they are not changed mid-term because we know that there is a common practice where they will get allocation and only end up paying those who look after them.

Unless we address the issues of transparency, accountability and poor governance, even getting the huge allocation will still be left with very little to see.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, do you remember when we went to the Senate Mashinani in Turkana County? There was, indeed, a chance and opportunity to visit various projects that have been undertaken by the county government. We were left wondering how Kshs120 billion down the line, people of that specific county cannot get enough water.

There are counties that have done extremely well with the allocation and with the money that they have received. There are others who, 10 years down the line, have nothing to show.

I do remember the allocation of Kshs401 billion was historic. A billion past the Kshs400 billion mark. However, as we pass this historic mark, we must also come strongly and put mechanisms in place that ensure that money does not go to waste.

It is the role of this House; it is the responsibility of this House, as much as we are denied adequate resources to ensure that we do effective oversight. We must condemn the things that these governors are doing.

Today in the morning, I read an article about counties that have blown hundreds of millions of shillings with foreign travel. You are left wondering, what is the similarity between our counties and the country of Singapore that every county government insists on taking MCAs to benchmark?

It is time we are called to be rational spenders. As much as we know that we raise this money through revenue collected from the taxpayers, we must stand for our people so that they can get value for money.

It is high time that this House started to name and shame those counties that are blowing billions of shillings with foreign travel. Those who are blowing millions of shillings through tea and mandazis, as has been said by my colleague. It is time we shame and name them.

It is time that as we push through with austerity measures, it must go down to the county governments. Why would someone want to take a whole county assembly to Arusha, Tanzania, to do training, when they can get that training here locally?

As I sit down, I want to urge my colleagues and as we push for Kshs401 allocation to our counties, let us open our eyes and move with speed, so that we ensure that we leave a mark as the Senate that ensured prudent utilisation of public resources. We must ensure this is done in a way that will be effective, especially in the health, agriculture and other sectors, so that we leave a mark and a huge footprint in this country.

I want to commend the Standing Committee on Finance for a job well done. It is time that we stand for what is right. This country must stand for what is right. As we do so, Senators must put their best foot forward and say that we protect devolution as much as we protect the implementation and utilization of the resources that are allocated to the county governments.

I support the amendments as proposed by the committee.

Proceed, Sen. Orwoba.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to add my voice on the Division of Revenue (Amendment) Bill from the National Assembly.

I have read and seen the numbers. I am of the opinion that we are living in different times where we should have transparency, proper oversight and live within our means.

I know that this is the first time that we have gone down in terms of allocation. Maybe that is the pushback that you are seeing from the Senate, which is supposed to protect devolution and fight for counties to get enough resources.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I feel that we must start accounting for all the monies we sent down to the counties. We are in several committees where we engage with the county assemblies and the county governors. We see a lot of wastage and resources being used for projects that are not impactful.

I agree with the National Assembly that indeed it is time we lived within our means and have a budget cut, all the way to the county assemblies. Earlier this afternoon, we even heard Sen. Sifuna saying that all institutions have to cut the budget so that we can live within our means. This does not mean that the county governments should not be subjected to this.

I understand that my role at the Senate is to support devolution and to ensure that county governments have enough resources, but I also understand that comes with the responsibility. We always urge our county governments to generate more own source revenue.

There are so many county governments that up to date are 95 per cent dependent on this allocation, yet they have a lot of economic activities on the ground which they cannot show in terms of own source revenue.

We also want to get to a point where we are encouraging the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of these counties; that is the governors, to go out and seek Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). They should go out and fundraise for the different projects and activities that they have in the counties. They can then become self-reliant from the national Government to the county governments.

I concur with the National Assembly for the figures that they have put. This is

Hon. Members, let us rise.

Hon. Members, it is now 6.30 p.m., time to adjourn. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday 25th September, 2024 at 9.30 a.m.

The Senate rose at 6.30 p.m.