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{
    "id": 1165755,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1165755/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 161,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Farhiya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13179,
        "legal_name": "Farhiya Ali Haji",
        "slug": "farhiya-ali-haji"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. What is so interesting in terms of this Bill is the regional blocs suggested by Sen. Nyamunga. Regional blocs already exist, but right now there is no legal framework. If you do not have a legal framework you do not have a basis to sue or to be sued as a regional bloc. If there is a legal framework, then they conduct their business knowing that they have what it takes to ensure that it functions well as anticipated by the Bill. As a result of regional blocs in this Bill, there is going to be an interesting economic activity that can take place. Each region can invest more money in what they are good at. That means there is synergy among the different counties. In addition, there will be market for the products as a result of specialisation. Once this Bill comes to actualisation, the Ministry of Industralisation Trade and Cooperation needs to do a lot of work in finding markets for these interesting projects that will come as a result of these regional blocs. We have a regional bloc whereby even the county of Turkana is part. This is not as a result of our neighborliness, but our livelihood in terms livestock and arid and semi- arid region. We have unique challenges as results of those counties that are arid and semi- arid. There are 10 counties in that regional bloc and are able to negotiate with donors in terms of doing some interesting projects. As a result of this Bill, actualisation of Agenda Four of our President and the Jubilee Government will be realised and industralisation will be possible with these regional blocs. The Bill is not only formulating ability to have regional blocks and others. It also creates a favorable environment in terms of actualization of this Bill. One of it is promotion of good governance and accountability in development and exploitation of natural resources. That is important because unless you put systems that support good governance in place, then we can only talk about laws that are there but will never benefit the common mwananchi . The governors who are there are on their way out. Therefore, I urge Kenyans to elect governors who will actualize this Bill and make sure the lives of their citizens are much better than they found it. There is need to promote sustainable development in exploiting of natural resources. The Bill also encourages public participation, transparency, availability of timely services, and reliable information. This is because unless you have reliable information, there is no way the citizen will know what is going on in order for this Bill to be successful in ensuring that counties develop. This Bill also recommends that if there is a natural resource within a county, 45 per cent of the profits that accrues from it should go to that county. Nairobi County needs to be worried if this Bill goes through. This is because the water that is used in Nairobi comes from Murang’a County. Therefore, Nairobi City County should be ready to pay 45 per cent of the profit to Murang’a County. That is just food for thought. The other thing is in terms of regulation. I have noticed that the Bill provides for regulation for counties to give according to the Public Finance and Management Act. However, it does not compel them to have regulation by what date after this Bill is"
}