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{
    "id": 1048885,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1048885/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 223,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": "Government is purely at the level of policy making, which has been brought out clearly in the Bill. I have seen that the guiding principles of this Bill have borrowed from the principles found in the preamble and Chapters 1 and 10 of the Constitution. The Constitution lays a premium on certain principles and objectives that we must abide by as a nation. Such a move permeates other parts of the Constitution. Clause 3 of this Bill proposes insertion of a new Clause 2A. Some of those guiding principles are not really new, because they fall within the realm of what has become generally acceptable including the question of public participation. I am glad that Sen. (Dr.) Zani has found it necessary to put as a guiding principle the democratic member control. Many big and progressive co-operative societies have come to a halt because of the way they are being run. There are instances where the CEO or Chairman of the co-operative takes over the organization as if it is an institution that only belongs to the leadership. This as a guiding principle is very important for it to have been put in what will become Section Clause 2A of the Statute. Madam Deputy Speaker, the question of autonomy and independence is very important with regard to the other provisions that relate to obligations of the National Government to co-operative societies or in the sector. I agree with Sen. (Dr.) Zani that this is important because sometimes the National Government can become too intrusive. I know of times where even co-operative society members had to go to see the local co-operative officer to have their cheques drawn, signed and counter-checked. That simple procedure made it very difficult for co-operative societies to run in a manner that speaks to good governance. The Central Government through co-operative society officers would find space for control of things that would look like necessary bureaucracy but at the end of the day, they killed very large co-operative societies. In order to ensure that there is no too much red tape and intrusion from the two levels of Government, I support these two guiding principles that there should be democratic member control, autonomy and independence. I think such a move would address the other concerns that I had in view of the role of the National and county governments. Since co-operatives are a devolved function, the role of the county government at that level, is critical. However, the way that it has come out in the entire legislation, it addresses the question where the national or county government may become too intrusive in the management of co-operative societies. I have also seen that in respect of application for registration of co-operative societies, where this Bill proposes that the process would largely be at the national level when you are dealing with apex societies. However, when you are dealing with primary societies, the point at which everything begins in terms of applications or registrations is with the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) who would be in charge of that particular function. In the past, if you had a co-operative society in Moyale, for instance, and there was anything to do with application, change of office or change in name, somebody had The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}