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"id": 1445826,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1445826/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abass",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13587,
"legal_name": "Abass Sheikh Mohamed",
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"content": "summoned the incumbent Governor, we learnt that there were almost 400 stalled projects. This was a deliberate move. Madam Temporary Speaker, one other thing is that the one for Tharaka-Nithi has an audit issue. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has stopped the project because during the initial planning, the contractor over-estimated the project and when they started, the EACC stopped its construction. However, when we inquired from the EACC, they denied it and the County Government denied it as well. Therefore, we need to investigate more on what is going on in Tharaka-Nithi because the County Assembly sits in makeshift structures. As the years proceed, the building that was costing about Kshs100 million then, today, costs about Kshs1 billion because of implications such as increase in costs. The other big challenge is the availability of suitable sites. Like in Lamu County, they want to build an office in Faza Island and another in the mainland. The price also changes. There is the also the availability of funds because counties are supposed to contribute 30 per cent and then they change their priorities. Therefore, when the national Government gives out money, the funds from counties are always missing. We, therefore, need to enforce that for counties to get shareable revenue, they should also contribute their 30 pe rcent. Madam Temporary Speaker, Elgeyo-Marakwet County had good offices, but now they have said that those offices are not enough and have changed their priorities. We need to relook at some of these issues. The other big challenge is inadequate funds given to county governments because money given to them is not enough and then they change their priorities. Then they start to build new infrastructures like Level 4 and Level 5 hospitals because the public is demanding for more services, especially in hospitals and national schools. One other thing I will say is that there is delay by the national Government to release funds and as a result, money is not released on time, or sometimes that money is not budgeted for and then all kinds of variations come in. As we move, priorities of the counties change. County assemblies chambers do not get built and governors official residences are not built. It is not only the headquarters but many other facilities have not been done. Therefore, all the unbundled functions and facilities are not available. The national Government unbundled functions. When functions are not bundled, money is not sent on time and things like libraries are not catered for. Some places do not have libraries and the money was released. This is an oversight by the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC). We need to send the IGRTC before the functions are unbundled and also look into that and ensure that costing is done. Madam Temporary Speaker, most of the times, the costing is not usually done, but they are part of the unbundled functions. By the time counties receive those functions, there are no offices or houses for the officers who have been transferred from the national Government and these are the many challenges during this time of devolution. Therefore, the Senate has to redo and re-evaluate all the functions that have been unbundled and moved to the counties. If there is any function that is going to be unbundled, we must also have the costings of those functions. With those few remarks, I support the Report. Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only.A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services,Senate."
}