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{
    "id": 1505547,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1505547/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 163,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13199,
        "legal_name": "Enoch Kiio Wambua",
        "slug": "enoch-kiio-wambua"
    },
    "content": "The decision of Parliament on how that money is shared must never be influenced by the plans or aspirations of the national Government. It must be a very objective decision made by Parliament because both governments belong to this country. I want to say two things about the utilization of this money that we want to devolve to our counties, especially in the health sector. We all agree that health is a devolved function. However, I do not know of any county - I stand to be corrected - that can stand here and say that their health sector is in good shape. I do not know of any county. At least I can speak for my county and counties in my region. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, health has become a major challenge to counties and county governments; from basic lack of infrastructure for health facilities, to drugs, equipment and personnel. I will be recommending, as the Senator of Kitui County that there will be need for a national conversation around the mess in the health sector. I say that because everybody aspires to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and it is a beautiful thing. Everybody wants us to get there. However, truth be told, if we do not fix the basics, then this talk about UHC is just empty talk. We must have the courage to ask ourselves what exactly is the problem with our health sector in all counties in this country and even at the national level. Access to affordable health care, from where I sit, is actually a basic human right. A right that must be afforded to each Kenyan in every corner of this country. Even as we debate on the money that we are going to be devolving to our counties, it will also be important, as a Senate and individual Senators, to scrutinize the percentage of county budgets that go into healthcare. We should do this in liaison with our respective county assemblies. This is important. I was having a conversation with the governor of a neighbouring county to Kitui and the governor said something that was very profound; that if healthcare collapses in one county, then the ripple effect is felt in all the other frontline counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you and I share a border. If Meru’s health sector is dysfunctional, then the effects of that dysfunction will be felt in Tharaka Nithi, Kitui and Embu. Concerted efforts must be made to ensure the success of the health sector in our counties. There is no magic to it. The only way of doing this is to make sure that governors and their governments allocate sufficient resources, which will be properly used to roll out programs in the health sector. The other matter that I want to talk about is just the general pilferage of county resources and the outright disregard to accounting procedures in most of our counties. I have heard a Senator here lamenting twice, or maybe thrice, that their governor or their government calls to be voided Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) transactions 1,600 times. I say some things can only happen in Kenya. How can you void IFMIS transactions 1,600 times and pretend that you are doing a clean job? The matter is then taken to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and other investigating agencies and somehow a way out is found. I come from Kitui County, where an accountant would just sign off audit reports that they have not prepared and submit them to the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG). Consequently, when mistakes and outright evidence of theft are detected, they simply say 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."
}