Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1490832,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1490832/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 147,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Revenue Fund and the same fund is used to pay for trips by governors, officials of the counties, and so on. The money does not go to development of water, even where they have collected something. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we had the same problems with dispensaries and health centres. When we were passing the laws that involved the Universal Health Care (UHC) laws, we said that some money needs to be left at the dispensary and the health centre level, so that if a fence has broken down or a car has a puncture, the local committee there can deal with that matter by withdrawing money from the revenues they are collecting there. What is so difficult about us creating some serious thinking, following that model, around ring-fencing money for water? This is so that, the money which we vote here can go down there to the governors who are the people mandated by law to organise budgets. Nonetheless, in between, some money needs to be ring-fenced for water, so that the infrastructure of water can grow. Since, no matter what we say or do, if the infrastructure of water that we want to use in 2024 in Tana River for example is the same that was set up in the 1960s by the Tana River County Council, it will never work. We must start thinking as a Senate of a way of pushing money so that the infrastructure can be upgraded. There is another thought also that we need to think because this is a House of ideas. We have been told 100 per cent of shares are owned by the county governments. In Tana River County, the Tana River Water and Sewerage Company (TAWASCO) is owned 100 per cent by the county government of Tana River. The county government of Tana River will tell you “We do not have money to invest in infrastructure”. Money delays to come from the national Government. Our equitable share is little. We do not have sufficient funds to do fresh investments.” Therefore, why can we not start focusing on finding a way within the law to unlock that 100 per cent shareholding? Why can we not think of privatizing part of those shares, so that those who are interested in investing in water can come in and take over management? They can buy 30 or 40 per cent shares within the companies. They will be present in the management of our county water boards. This is to enable a person who may be benevolent or for instance has made his money abroad, in legal practise or investment elsewhere from whatever they do and wish to purchase shares within the water companies of their county, they can become shareholders because they want to do something for their county. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if you have reached that level where Kshs100 or Kshs500 million is not an issue to you, you want to retire and feel like you want to do something special, it is possible. We must find a way in which we can create a law that allows even benevolent investors to put in money within our water companies. I pity some of our managers in these water companies. They will come before Chairman Osotsi and tell them we are angling for World Bank or other grants to give us this money to meet these requirements. When you look at it, the money they are angling for is Kshs50 or Kshs100 million. They come to Nairobi and they tell you to help them achieve this or the other yet it is money that many Kenyans here can raise if the law allows them. 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."
}