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{
    "id": 1078346,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1078346/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 470,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Othaya, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Gichuki Mugambi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13463,
        "legal_name": "James Gichuki Mugambi",
        "slug": "james-gichuki-mugambi-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support. This is a very important Bill. As you know, we are devolving Kshs370 billion to the county governments. This is quite a substantial amount of money that we all need to see that it is put into proper use. When you go round the counties, you will see a lot of wastage. There are many projects which were started and have not been completed. This happens to be a very risky year where everybody wants to start a project and leave it without caring whether it would be completed or not. This is the beginning of all these pending bills. We should have a framework where we are sure nobody will begin a project without providing the total funds for it. Most times, we start a project without funds. We often start a project because we can afford or have put aside 10 per cent mobilisation fee. It is only after the contractors do the work and submit their certificates, that you realise there is no money to pay them. This is how we are authoring the pending bills. We must have a framework to guide our counties and ensure that they do not create pending bills. County assemblies should be able to monitor and oversee the Executive at the county level. However, when you look at the capacity that some of the county assemblies have, they are not able to. Most of them get guidance on who to vote for and what to do, from the same Executive. We need to have a framework of strengthening oversight at the county level. We should build budget offices which can build capacity within the county assemblies so that they are properly equipped to oversee the Executive. We have been having a debate on whether elected leaders should be holders of a degree, but Members are taking it casually. When we talk about Kshs370 billion, would you pick somebody on popularity basis just because he is able to go round every morning in all homes taking a cup of tea, and then you tell him or her to go and oversee Kshs370 million building? We are failing from the word go. That is why this issue of degree should be taken seriously, so that the people we elect to counties and Parliament are able to understand their roles and take their job description seriously. It is the only way we can make sure we have value for money. Whether we 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."
}