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{
    "id": 1123883,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1123883/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 300,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Eng.) Hargura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 827,
        "legal_name": "Godana Hargura",
        "slug": "godana-hargura"
    },
    "content": "been engaging county assemblies when looking at audit reports and we have been insisting as the Senate Committee on County Public Accounts (CPAIC) and Investments that the vice chair should be there in the absence of the Speaker who is the chair. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, whenever the Speaker is absent, we have been clear that the Board is not properly constituted to appear before the Committee. We have always insisted that the vice chair has to be there. Sometimes, Speakers are removed and for the operations of the House, it is the Deputy Speaker who takes over. What about the board? Maybe that is what is being addressed and it is good we make it clear. There are cases where the Speaker is not there and has been removed by the county assembly or suspended because we have those kinds of cases, then the Deputy Speaker by virtue of running the county assembly might feel that he or she also needs to be in the Board. However, it is clearly indicated because we need to address what would happen in such a scenario where the Speaker is not there. That would require the House to quickly get a substantive Speaker who would chair the Board. In the absence, then the vice chair would represent the Board whenever they are required. Sometimes you assume these things. This one comes not from the Board itself, but the operations of the House. The Speaker might be removed by the Members and if that position of absence occurs in the Board by the action of the House, then there must be some way of making sure that the Deputy Speaker who is an elected MCA does not cross over to run a Board which is supposed to have a Speaker who is not an elected MCA. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the other aspect is Section 47 of the principal Act which is amended by deleting subsection 3 and substituting it with this one which requires the governors to submit the annual performance report of the County Executive and Public Service Board to the Senate and the County Assemblies within three months of the close of the financial year for consideration. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there is a lot of resistance from the County Executive and the governors, to even appear before this Senate where the law is very clear on the funds we have appropriated for them through the County Allocation of Revenue Act. When we request them to submit their performance reports, I am sure it will be contested by the governors. This is because already even where we are dealing with funds like the Road Maintenance Levy Fund and the conditional grants which pass through this House--- It is only this year that we removed conditional grants from the County Allocation Revenue Act (CARA). The other times they have been part of CARA. Right now, we have a case in court and a ruling as it is while awaiting final ruling from the Supreme Court is that we should not interrogate the usage of those funds, especially the Road Maintenance Levy Fund. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is a clear fund which has been legislated on. Kenyans are made to pay an amount of money. Last time I checked, it was Kshs9 per litre for every of fuel consumed in this country. This goes to maintain roads. During the Eleventh Parliament, this House set aside 15 per cent of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund as conditional grants by virtue of handling the county roads. The Kenya Roads Board (KRB) administers this fund. I have looked at the budget of my county and the Governor does not segregate this fund. It is just a line item with a"
}