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{
    "id": 1271685,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1271685/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 216,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. The Committee system is an efficient way of processing matters in any Parliament. As you have seen, Committees have done a commendable job. I have been listening keenly to the reports presented by chairpersons. Clearly, a lot is happening within the Committees. Nonetheless, I am concerned that whereas Committees are useful in processing business that is brought to the Chamber for debate and action, we have budgetary constraints. We had a meeting of the Committee on Liaison and this matter came up. We are concerned that with this trend, we may not perform our role effectively as Committees. This is a matter that the Senate, as a whole, needs to look at, so that we have budgets that will allow us to run Committees efficiently. Conducting public participation has become a problem. Several Chairpersons have had to use their own resources to process some aspects of public participation. As we commend our committees for the good work they have done, it is important that we critically review the budget allocated to Committees. Committees will not have meetings outside Parliament because there is no money. This is a concern that we all have as chairpersons. I also encourage the chairpersons of Committees to strictly ensure that the provisions of Article 96 are adhered to, which is to protect county governments and their interests. We are beginning to see claw backs of the gains we have made in devolution. We have seen attempts of taking back some of functions to the national Government. The national Government is spearheading county functions like deployment of community health volunteers and housing. Regardless of which side of the political divide you are in, we must protect devolution and adhere to Article 96 of the Constitution. I encourage chairpersons and Members of Committees to ensure that, that is done. In my Committee on County Public Investments (CPIC), we have made tremendous steps in addressing one of the major challenges in the counties, that is, the management of water resources under the water companies."
}