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{
    "id": 1494976,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494976/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 102,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Gataya Mo Fire",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "critical. I am even wondering why this Bill did not find its way to this House 12 years ago at the inception of devolution. We cannot be talking about oversight and the effectiveness of the county assembly and its government without strengthening the very arm of oversight; which is the legislative arm of the county assembly. It is common knowledge that you cannot effectively oversight somebody who is feeding you at will. Even some of the Impeachment Motions that we have seen before this House are generated from the defiant MCAs who have decided to oversight those governors. In quite a number of counties, most of the county assemblies are very submissive. They are subdued and coerced into singing the song of the relevant governor. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you notice that county assemblies are just replicas of the National Assembly and the Senate which draws money from the Exchequer’s directly. Having this County Assembly Fund is one way of making sure that we guarantee autonomy, strengthen devolution and the legislative work of the government. I am happy because I have gone through this broad Bill. It has captured quite a number of aspects. The Bill dictates that the Clerk of the county assembly shall be the head of the County Assembly Fund. In this current format, he is the accounting officer. The head of the fund shall ensure that the earnings and accruals of the fund are retained in the fund and spent only for the purposes for which the fund is intended. The Bill has created a lot of safeguards and protection. The whole exercise contained in this Bill is to make sure that there is a serious element of accountability, so that we do not have those county assemblies going over. It is a very noble idea. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I sincerely thank you because you are the sponsor of this Bill. I am happy that county assemblies across the country, including Meru where you come from and Tharaka Nithi will write your name in history as the person who created some elements of autonomy and independence to make sure that the legislative arm of the county government is strengthened. I strongly support this arrangement. I thank you."
}