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{
    "id": 1491423,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1491423/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 194,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "is also the administrator to ensure that there is a smooth flow of the workings of the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs). He stands best to administer this fund. Clause 5, which talks about how the administrator of the county assembly shall arrange for the county assembly fund to be kept in the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in an account to be known as the County Assembly Fund Account. Where I sit as a Member of a County Investment Special Fund (CISF), when we are doing audits and oversight, we come across issues of different bank accounts that have been opened by different accounting officers in the different funds that the counties are allowed to open. With Clause 5(a) communicating and talking about the fact that the account shall be kept to the CBK; it minimises the issues that we have seen happening in the counties. It is the same counties that open these accounts. Avoidance of these so many accounts is very important. So many accounts bring challenges during the oversight process. Part B talks about ensuring that all money authorised by the county for the public purpose is paid from the account without undue withdrawal. This will have to go up to the level of the National Treasury. I am happy we have a new Cabinet Secretary. Since he has also been a Member of this Parliament, he is going to ensure timely disbursements of the funds to the counties. That delay in the funds has caused a lot of problems including problems with the pending bills. At the same time, problems for our great working leaders; the MCAs. Our MCAs at times go for almost three months without their salaries. Mark you, these are the leaders who are in direct communication with our people at the ground level. Senators come to Nairobi and transact our business because our offices are within Nairobi and we go to mashinani during the weekend. It is different for the MCAs who every day they are meeting with the people. They interact with the people and the people are also sharing their needs. If an MCA goes without salary for two to three months, for Christ's sake, it becomes very hectic. Ensuring that disbursement of these funds to the County Assembly Fund Account should be timely starts at the National Treasury level. So, the new Cabinet Secretary should ensure, because this is what he promised when he came to this House, and affirm that timely disbursements will be done. Otherwise, without this, then we will be killing devolution. Undermining devolution is the last thing that the Senate wants to embark on. So timely disbursements will always be very key. Looking at Clause 109B, the funds shall be used to defray administrative services, as well as the acquisition and maintenance of buildings, grounds and other assets. In the Committee of Finance and Budget, we have a room whereby when the MCAs appear before our committee requesting an increment of their ceilings. This is normally brought about by the projects that they have. In most cases, we have looked at those issues and accorded the increment of the ceilings. One thing to note is that we have had counties such as those in northeastern where they talk about the challenges that they go through to do the oversight. Even the Senators, before we do the oversight for the counties, the mandate is within the MCAs. If they do not have enough facilitation, and they have all these challenges, mobility and all that, it becomes a hurdle for them to achieve their basic mandate, which is oversight. 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."
}