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{
    "id": 1066096,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1066096/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 62,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kasanga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13185,
        "legal_name": "Sylvia Mueni Kasanga",
        "slug": "sylvia-mueni-kasanga"
    },
    "content": "women and children are canvassed. They can also question the national Government in the committees on why issues of women and children have not been canvassed. I recently brought a Statement on a policy programme that has not been rolled out by the Government. It has to do with women and children on sexual abuse. It is a national plan of action of 2018 on sexual and gender abuse of women and children. It is a policy that is beautifully drawn up, signed by the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Planning, complete with budget lines, but it has not been rolled out. Look at where we are with Covid-19 and how gender based violence has become such a big issue. I look forward to an expanded committee that can deal with such issues. I look forward to a committee that will have women who can push for such agendas. Without any doubt, it is about time that we brought the two-thirds gender rule. I look forward to it. The BBI has many issues with it, but the few good ones are too good to throw away. We want these changes. This is something that I feel strongly about. I look forward to it. I will discuss the issue of equitable share in a few minutes. The issues are glaring. When you look at Clause N, the Committee states that the Executive and Legislature need to put in place mechanisms to ensure that no counties are disadvantaged as a result of application of the new criteria that has been proposed in the Bill and that is the criteria that we can call one man one shilling criteria. I want to deal with it in a short while when I talk about how we should look forward to the other issues. On the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), there are definitely areas of concern and the Committee has tried to tell us the way forward on those issues. They largely told us to pass the Bill. It is a Bill that belongs to the people so we will let the people decide. Whereas I am a supporter of this Bill, it is good that these issues are brought to the fore. That will help us know how to discuss these issues when we go back to debate in our different platforms. Whereas the document may have issues and may not be perfect, it is still the perfect beginning to providing an incremental change to our Constitution and that is something that we must celebrate. Nothing is static. Everything has to evolve based on the times that we are in. The times now are demanding that we expand the Executive because of the perception that the leader’s region is the only one that benefits. Let us expand the Executive. Let us have more regional leaders going up to the top. After all, there is Kshs1.5 trillion that we all have a piece of. Let us deal with that right now. That is how this Bill is dealing with it and it is a step forward. After 10 years, we may have received enough equity which can then lead us to adjust it, if need be. I look forward to the positive issues that the BBI is bringing about. I look forward to more money to the counties. We are aggrieved because of the Kshs1.5 trillion that is left at the national level, but we at least have Kshs370 billion that is going down to the counties this year. As we move forward, our focus should be on hitting the 40 per cent because we have achieved 35 per cent. That is a step forward and we must accept to move forward. This Bill now proposes that the Constituencies Development Fund be entrenched in the Constitution. It has been unconstitutional, but this Bill seeks to entrench it in the Constitution and that is more money to the people. The same applies to the Ward 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."
}