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{
    "id": 111308,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/111308/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 263,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "30 Wednesday, 24th March, 2010(P) The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons (",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Baya): Thank you very much, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. The document which is before us in this House is very important. For many years, particularly from 2005, Kenyans have been waiting for this document. I feel it is important that this House plays its role by passing it and we ask wananchi to vote for it during the Referendum. There are some very interesting and good features of the Constitution. Of course, it may not be good for all of us. There are some areas that may need to be looked into, but as the Speaker directed, this will be done substantively tomorrow, but I would like to mention a few areas. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, like hon. Chanzu pointed out, the issue of dual citizenship has been long overdue. I know friends and even relatives who lost opportunities abroad simply because they were unable or feared getting citizenship in those countries. Regarding the issue of devolution, this time we are not talking about the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF), an economic devolution that was made without being entrenched in the Constitution. This is not even an administrative devolution, but a legislative devolution which is very important. It will enable the county assemblies to discuss and pass some policies. It will also assist them collect revenue to some extent. Therefore, this is a real parting from the old Constitution. I know that this will come tomorrow but it is important to mention to it here; that the number of counties need to be increased. The number that we are given at the moment; that is, 47, is too small. It will make life very difficult for those who are supposed to occupy the offices in the county assemblies. For instance, at 47, our county will start from Mtwapa to the border of Malindi and Tana River. That will be too huge. Those who will be occupying those positions will be in a baraza and not an assembly. There is also need to retain the current strength of councillors. These, I believe, are the ones who will occupy these positions in the county assemblies. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, lastly, there is the issue of land and environment. Under Chapter 5, forests and national parks have been categorized as public land. Sub-section 2 goes ahead to vest the administration--- It says that this public land shall vest in and be held by the county government. Up to that point, it is very good. But it goes ahead to suggest that the administration of this land be under the National Land Commission. We need to relook into this because those counties that house national parks, for example, Tsavo West and Tsavo East, and huge forests like the Gede Forest, should be made wholly responsible for the management of these resources, so that they can also benefit in terms of the tourists who visit the parks and the products from the forests. These could form part of their revenue. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}