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{
    "id": 1065562,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1065562/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 29,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kiminini, FORD-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Chris Wamalwa",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1889,
        "legal_name": "Chrisantus Wamalwa Wakhungu",
        "slug": "chrisantus-wamalwa-wakhungu"
    },
    "content": "issues are sorted out, the economic issues will follow. The same Kwame Nkurumah said that the forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than super imposed forces that keep us apart. We must unite. One of the great proposals contained in this Bill is that cabinet secretaries will be appointed from the Membership of this House. At the moment, we are experiencing the presidential system. Some of the democracies that have grown, like Singapore, have been using a parliamentary governance system. This Bill proposes a hybrid governance system. Cabinet secretaries will be appointed from the Membership of this House. I have no doubt that if some of the brains that we have here today make it back to this House next year, God willing, they will be cabinet secretaries. The Bill also provides for assistant cabinet ministers. I have no doubt that those who will not become cabinet secretaries may become assistant cabinet secretaries. This Bill will go a long way in terms of resolving the problem of inclusivity. When it comes to the issue of representation in this House, some of us have been asking questions. It has been a big problem for cabinet secretaries to come to this House and answer parliamentary Questions raised by Members, who are the representatives of the people. As Article 1 of the Constitution says, this country’s sovereign power belongs to the people. It can be exercised directly by the people or through their democratically elected leaders, who are seated here today. We have been frustrated many times. I have raised a Question on insecurity in the area I come from, but six months down the line, it has not been answered. When the time comes for it to be replied to, the cabinet secretary does not show up. The passage of this Bill will return cabinet secretaries to the House. They will be sitting with us here and we will be working together as colleagues. Some of the issues that take one month to be resolved will be resolved within even a week or a day. So, this will be a big plus for Members of Parliament. Another important proposal contained in this Bill is to increase the allocation of sharable revenue to the counties from 15 per cent to 35 per cent. This is a big plus. Some Members have correctly argued that counties are already almost receiving 35 per cent of the sharable revenue, but that new percentage is not anchored in the supreme law. This Bill seeks to anchor 35 per cent in the Constitution. With such development, we can be assured of having development in the counties. It has been argued that resources follow functions. If you look at the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, you will see that so many functions have been devolved to the counties, but there is a complaint that resources have not followed those functions. This Bill seeks to resolve that problem by increasing the resources that will be following the functions to the county level. So, we do not expect the issue of lack of resources in the counties to persist. The governors have to operate. We do not expect any excuse from them. It goes without saying. This Bill is good also for the MCAs as the county executives will also be appointed from the county assemblies. It is high time we harmonised the academic qualification issue as contained in the Elections Act. Hon. Speaker, I have been sent to you by the great MCAs from my region and the matter is on your desk. Maybe, this House will decide because the Constitution is very clear that this House will determine the academic qualification that should be possessed by MCAs and Members of Parliament. We have only 14 months to the next general elections. I know there are those who are in universities. Unfortunately, because of the Corona pandemic, they may not have completed their studies. We wish them well as we move forward. The hybrid system of governance is the best way to go. Wherever you go in this country you find that the only development that has been realised in every small villages is courtesy of the NG-CDF. The NG-CDF is the only Fund you find everywhere. You do not have to be in the Government or in line with the governor. The NG-CDF assures development for all Kenyans, but what is happening with the other funds? This is the first time the NG-CDF is being anchored in 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."
}