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{
    "id": 1406023,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406023/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 351,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mandago",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13577,
        "legal_name": "Kiplagat Jackson Mandago",
        "slug": "kiplagat-jackson-mandago"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to comment on the two Statements by the Senator for Garissa who is now the Chair. On the matter of appointment of chief officers, I not only take it that the governor is lax in his duties, but also the County Assembly of Garissa should be called out for allowing such blatant defiance of the law by the governor. This is by approving the budget consistently for all those years knowing very well that there are no substantive chief officers who have been appointed to those positions. I am even wondering, how the county development plans are being approved. How are the annual development programmes being approved if the officers are not substantive in office? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is a matter that this House and the Committee must take seriously. We request the Committee for Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, to write to the CoB immediately, to hold releases to the County Government of Garissa pending the visit and investigation on how these funds that have been sent without the proper officers in office have been utilized. It is not possible to have all the chief officers acting. In county governments, unless for some reason a chief officer has resigned immediately and somebody else is needed, a chief officer will then be appointed to act on the other docket. The Governor for Garissa is a let-down to the devolution family. He should be called off being an experienced governor who has served for one term. He should know better to ensure that the officers are vetted by the County Assembly. However, the County Assembly can never go scot-free. The county assembly is probably in bed with the governor and that is the reason why they have allowed this to go on for all those years. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I wish to support the Statement sought on health. Of particular concern is the high reported cases of maternal mortality. Maternal mortality is a matter of national interest. This is because it serves to show the indicators of the country in terms of determining how many children can live beyond five years. Whenever we see a county that has high cases of maternal mortality, it could be of interest to know whether they have a sufficient workforce and whether their maternities are working. We would also want to find out whether they have gotten their reimbursements for the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to ascertain why we have that kind of high mortality rate. This is an area where the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), and the Ministry of Health should take keen interest because this affects the national performance. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on equipment; this is a matter that has been discussed and debated in this House. Therefore, the national Government through the Ministry of Health must have a good discussion and plan on all the programmes that they intend to support the counties with to ensure success. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}