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{
    "id": 1490484,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1490484/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 297,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "and old piping systems. I want to believe that the coming in of private players in partnership with these water service agencies, will rid out these losses and ensure that they deliver water to our citizens at a fee that many of the average citizens can easily afford. There is one that I am not certain how it has been addressed in this particular Bill. Although, I recall that previously as I Moved this Bill, it is one of the things that we had concerned ourselves about. What would eventually happen with the existing water service agencies in our counties that will find themselves unable to keep up with other competing players, who will deliver the service that they are currently delivering perhaps at 50 per cent of the cost they are delivering? Many county governments will find themselves in a difficult place where they have to reach an agreement to either completely shut down or surrender and leave it to the private players to make a decision. One of the most difficult decisions in this country is how to wind up a public entity because of the interest of employees. You will find employees demonstrating and sometimes curiously, even citizens who would have benefited from the efficiency of a private player involving themselves in public issues innocently join. They ask why the people have to be fired and that they should be allowed to have a job. Not knowing that this is being introduced, so that they can get services at a cheaper fee than what they presently get. Finally, there is this Clause on the water tribunal that states that- “The chairperson will be an advocate of the High Court of Kenya with not less than 10 years’ post; two persons, one of whom shall be a registered civil engineer; two persons who possess a degree from a university recognized in Kenya; the chairperson and members of the water tribunal shall be appointed to a term of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment for one further term of three years.” Madam Temporary Speaker, the most important addition that the mediated version has brought that I appreciate is part four of that Clause. It says- “The Chairperson and members of the Tribunal shall be paid such allowances as the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) may, in consultation with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).” It cannot be JSC alone. If you are not careful, you will create tribunals where people will end up collecting all the savings we have previously made from efficiencies brought in by the private sector, to be earned by members of this tribunal. I like the fact that this has now been introduced at this stage of the mediated version of the Bill. The members of the Tribunal will be enumerated, so that they do not feel like they are offering free service, which would make them susceptible to being bribed. The second and most important thing is that they are being compensated competitively as per the rates that will be determined by SRC. I believe that SRC will vary these rates because I do not think that you can have a standard rate applying for all the 47 counties. I may be wrong on that. The rates that will be charged to citizens will vary from one county to the other depending on so many other factors, including the distance or the cost of getting that water to the tap of citizens. Therefore, the earnings from water in one part of the country might not be necessarily the same for other parts of the country. 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."
}