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{
    "id": 584219,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/584219/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 227,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The petition will be submitted to the Speaker who will then receive it, notify, give it identification and a stamp. Once the Clerk is satisfied that the petition meets the requirements that I have read in Section (3), he will then commit it so that it is tabled in the House in the similar manner as the way petitions are read in our Senate before any business is commenced. Madam Temporary Speaker, we have also provided timelines so that the petition does not lie in the county assembly for eternity. That petition decision within 15 days will have to be communicated to the petitioner as to whether the petition has been accepted and with reasons because it is required by law. The record of the decision must be provided to the petitioner in line with the fair Administrative Action Act signed into law by His Excellency the President where all public bodies, including the Senate and the county assembly, where a decision is made based on a request by a citizen. That decision must be in writing and communicated to the petitioner. Similarly, so that we do not have endless procrastination of these decisions just like is provided under the same law, the fair Administrative Action Act in this law, we have given a 15 day deadline. Fifteen days are reasonable enough considering we do not expect that a person from a different county will file a petition in another county assembly. It is fairly straightforward that within 15 days, the county assembly ought to be able to determine this Petition and issue a decision thereof. Madam Temporary Speaker, in fact going back to the way the county assemblies have been determining their issues, you are aware in terms of budgets, the MCAs are going to the public and telling them to give them their views about the budget implementation. After the end of any financial year, the citizens do not know why their views are rejected or accepted. They also do not understand why their projects are not implemented and what happens to that budget. Madam Temporary Speaker, I want to tell the citizens of this Republic that instead of waiting for the Senator to come to your country, you will have a right to seek audience with the county assembly and ask questions about why projects have not been implemented and the answer should be given. The citizens will also get answers on why there was a variation on the budget. They will also know who varied it and so on. In terms of Bills, we are aware that MCAs are going to the public to seek views about a law. However, when it is rejected or passed, they do not go back to the public to give them feedback. It has happened in Makueni and other counties. We want to put an end to this because we do not want the part of the Constitution which seeks public participation to be an academic exercise so that people are spending money for public participation in forums and barazas, then they forget about the citizens after that. The purpose of having this method is to now have accountability. If those petitions are not answered, the public will have a right to come to the Senate and say that their petition has not been responded to. This will reduce the workload that is coming here. Madam Temporary Speaker, we are answering many questions that should have been answered at the county level, but the citizens are denied information. I would have preferred where the county assembly and the county government would be required to The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}