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{
    "id": 584324,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/584324/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 332,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to also support this Bill. In so doing, I would like to thank the Committee and appreciate them for being proactive in bringing this Bill that will go a long way in enabling the counties to provide better services to the residents of those counties. The Constitution has given the public the right to participate in all areas of governance but they have not been fully involved. We have had cases, for example, in budgeting and planning. There have been public participation forums which are academic exercises. As soon as those exercises are completed, public views are kept away and decisions are made independently by the executive and sometimes, by the county assemblies. There are situations when even the budget has been made on the basis of some public participation. However, in the middle of the year, the budget is overhauled without public participation in the name of supplementary or revised budget, where new issues are introduced, sometimes to the level of 80 per cent or more. Provisions for the petition are provided. It will go a long way in making it easy for the public to participate. Previously, the public even in those days when they could not petition, perhaps in writing, people were given the opportunity to participate through public barazas. Chiefs used to involve people in public barazas to get their views. There were times when people could give memoranda and they were accepted and responded to but as we speak, very few county governments participate in barazas, forums or even encourage people to present memoranda. This provision or formal establishment of a method of providing complaints is welcomed. However, other than legislating, there is need for civic education up to the grassroots on how such Bills and petitions can be drafted and presented. Not many people in the village will know, even after we have legislated, that there is a method of presenting their grievances. There are so many situations where county governments have not done what is expected of them. We have been confronted with issues of corruption in this Senate. 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."
}