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{
    "id": 1064896,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1064896/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 256,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, these amendments obviously mean that we will sort out the issues of underdevelopment and economic empowerment across the different counties. It is part of that sharing of the national prosperity. Hon. Speaker, I also note that some provisions have been brought within Article 11(a) of the Bill. It seeks to anchor within the Constitution the aspiration of a new economic model based on value creation that provides equitable opportunities for all the people. It promotes industrialisation, mainstreams the issue of pastoralism rather than just talking about agriculture. It also brings in the issue of the blue economy, which again is something that was not foreseen in 2010. By bringing to the Floor all these things in the Constitution it means they can now be mainstreamed in all the policy papers. More importantly for us, I did mention earlier that in 2003 the CDF was introduced which has shown that with limited resources properly focused we can yield a lot of development. However, this has always had challenges especially with the 2010 Constitution in terms of its constitutionality. Our Hon. Speaker has been working hard in terms of some of the laws that were declared and he will report at the appropriate time. However, within our Constitution now, the promoters have said let NG-CDF be an integral part of the Constitution and at the constituency level and also at the ward level, we have a similar fund. This is so that a governor who feels that there is a Member of County Assembly (MCA) who is constantly challenging him on governance and then decides to punish that MCA with no development will now find he cannot do it because there is an amount dedicated to every ward. This means you can now agitate at the county assembly for proper governance of the resources being taken there without risking development in your ward. This is part of the thing that we are talking of that will help eradicate poverty but also strengthen governance. Hon. Speaker Clause 12 of the Bill also proposes some amendments to Article 96 of the Constitution. You know, Article 96 has basically been giving limited powers to the Senate - to oversee national revenue distributed to the counties. What the promoters have therefore said is that Senate should not just be overseeing national revenue but also oversee the expenditure and the revenue collected by the counties. Now, at least Senate has a role. If you check the proposed amendment to Article 179 it says the governor and the deputy governor are the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Deputy CEO respectively of the counties. In the current Constitution, it stopped there. Now the promoters of the BBI are extending that by saying that they are not just CEO and Deputy CEO, but they shall be accountable to the county assembly so that now it is very clear in the Constitution that the governor and his deputy shall be answerable to the county assembly. It is conveniently saying when to be accountable to the Senate and when to be accountable to the county assembly depending on the severity of the matter. This is very important in fighting corruption and enhancing governance because we are giving more monies to the counties. Let them be more accountable to the county assemblies and the Senate. As I get to the end, there are lot of other changes in terms of elevating the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) through strengthening his office. There is a proposal to make it an independent office, so that the DPP will not be at the beck and call of the Executive. It will operate as an independent office and even the qualifications of the office have been enhanced so that we will have a DPP who will be of help to Kenyans. This goes alongside the elevation of the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI). When we now look at the changes within the police, the DCI will be at par with the other deputies, that is the deputy of the Inspector General of Police, Administration Police and now the crime unit. We want him to feel facilitated to pursue crime The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}