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{
    "id": 1414624,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1414624/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 363,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marakwet West, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Timothy Kipchumba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "particular function was transferred to the county governments because health became a fully devolved function. Since the function is devolved to the counties, each county government has passed a legislation to suit it. The challenge now is that we have 47 different legislations regulating the use of alcoholic drinks in this country. This is something that we need to rethink as a country. It even becomes a challenge in terms of audit by the Committee on Special Funds as it questions or brings issues in terms of jurisdiction, whether a committee of this House can check the excesses in terms of the legislation of the county government or audit a devolved function. This becomes a big challenge. Hon. Temporary Speaker, counties are raising funds pursuant to the legislations that they pass. There are committees on alcoholic drinks at the county level. However, we need to re-look into it. Can the Special Funds Accounts Committee look at whether the funds raised by the county governments meet the needs of the people in those counties? I have a challenge. If you look at this Report, this Committee, unless I am advised otherwise, is not able to ascertain and audit the funds that are channelled through the county governments. What is happening now is that the county governments have formed committees and sub-committees to issue licenses and regulate alcoholic drinks in the counties. The question of devolution and that of the functions of the county governments in holding those funds comes into question. We need to come up with a way that the funds raised by the county governments through licensing can rehabilitate those people who, by using alcohol to their detriment, has affected them in one way or the other. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support this Report but, as a country, we need to re-look at the legal framework. We need to re-look at the architecture of devolving health. The biggest challenge is that we have the devolved county governments. They are raising funds, but are those funds meeting the required needs? Are those funds used properly in terms of even establishing rehabilitation centres at the county level? I support the Report; but majorly, I reiterate that the issue to do with alcoholic drinks and the issue to do with National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority should be returned to the national Government. This is so that we have one autonomous body regulating the use of alcoholic drinks in this country. It is apparently clear on the face of record that county governments have been unable to regulate. That is why you see their fight against alcoholic drinks in this country by the national Government. This is because it is apparently clear on the face of record that the county governments are unable to properly regulate and license alcoholic drinks at the county level. This function, in my opinion, should be taken back to the national Government. Let us have one autonomous authority regulating the issuance of licenses, issuance of registration of bars in this country and other drinking joints. It is clear that the county government has failed on this mandate, particularly on the national campaign against drug abuse. That authority, which was taken to the county government or lapsed because of devolution, should be taken back to the national Government. This is so that the national Government becomes autonomous in regulating alcoholic drinks in this country. I support this report."
}