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{
    "id": 1370396,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1370396/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 140,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Abass",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13587,
        "legal_name": "Abass Sheikh Mohamed",
        "slug": "abass-sheikh"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. First and foremost, I thank God for allowing us to come back here. I can see many bright faces here. We are all safe and sound. Two, this House has a responsibility to oversee devolution. If there is no devolution, I think the Senate will not be there. As it is, and as the Chairman of the Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee has said, devolution is actually under threat for mainly two issues: One, there is run-away corruption within the counties. For sure, if we just keep our eyes closed, then I think devolution will not work to achieve its objectives. Therefore, now that the Senate has received the oversight funds, at least the first trunk has been received, I ask my colleagues that this time, we need to enhance the oversight. I suggest that we form what we call a regional approach. This is where Senators from certain regions can collaborate with the little money they have and work as a team. With that, we can deliver better results than running around individually. Otherwise, we will not be able to save devolution. Two, devolution is actually under threat because funds are not being released on time. As we talk now, the last time governors received money to the counties was either in October or September last year. There is a lot of backlog in payments. The staff are paid from banks and as you are aware, the interest rate for banks has now increased. Therefore, the counties are facing many challenges despite the corruption going on. Of course, the delay is causing unnecessary suffering for the counties to deliver. Mr. Speaker, Sir, secondly, the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget is here. Up to now, the additional funds have not been released. This House must take this seriously. We need to release those funds, so that counties can work and deliver. We are now in the Third Session and are remaining with three years. We need to pull up our socks and work the extra mile in order to deliver and strengthen devolution."
}