HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1527225,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1527225/?format=api",
"text_counter": 375,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Busia County, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Catherine Omanyo",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I support this Bill. It is long overdue. The counties are suffocating with so much baggage. I cannot even start counting. If they are given additional funds, I just pray that this time round, anything that is budgeted and programmed is done exactly how the budget intended. I fail to understand why we have pending bills, yet there was a budget for it, that was approved. If the money comes even after delays, then every detail on the budget should be ticked. I wonder why we have pending bills. It has become the excuse for all counties on why things are at a snail's speed. We need to strengthen our control mechanisms and accountability. We should also look into eliminating wastage. It is just too much. In Busia County, once these funds are allocated, we will no longer have the problems of water shortages in places like Teso North where women and children move to Bungoma County to seek for this commodity. They walk miles, far away searching for a river. We have a hard pan on the northern side of Teso North. Even if you drill a borehole, you will not get water. We have Malakisi River that has enough water and this money can be used to pipe water into homes. It is possible. How do developed nations come into play when it comes to things like these? It is by piping water. Water from Malakisi and across the sub-county, including the nearest sub-counties should be treated and piped. If we started piping bit by bit into homes, by the end of five years, all homes in my county will be receiving clean and safe water. We have CHVs who have been doing a lot including assisting doctors and nurses. Places that doctors have not reached, these CHVs have. They understand every home that needs attention, be it in terms of health or other counselling issues. They step in to help where the doctors cannot. We have few doctors in the county. You can find that one psychiatrist is handling over 400 cases. We cannot lie to ourselves that one psychiatrist can handle all those cases. These CHVs need to be supported. They are demoralised by not being supported. They are not even remunerated. I am praying that when this money hits the accounts in the counties, those who have been there volunteering, will benefit. I see most of them carrying books because they do not have phones or laptops and are not trained on how to keep data. They register a name physically, the way class teachers used to do before the era of computers. They know well those who need attention with their challenges, both physically and mentally. I hope when these funds hit the accounts, volunteers who have been there will not be left aside, just because money has surfaced; that other people who have no clue, will get it. All the CHVs know each other and know their own caucus across the county. Those are the people who ought to be the beneficiaries. If you motivate such people, a lot of gaps will be filled. Just as I mentioned, not all doctors and nurses will get into remote areas to help out with medication and counselling. Besides the CHVs and water, there is the health sector. Just the other day, we had a terrible accident. Kolanya Boys, a school that is well known, was involved in an accident. Students were rushed to a small hospital called Kocholia Sub-County Hospital and unfortunately, there were no beds and medicine. The basic equipment that a normal hospital has, was lacking. The boys were thrown on the floor like logs. When this money is added, all the dispensaries however small from the sub-counties to the referral hospitals in the counties, must be well equipped. Doctors, nurses, clinical officers and anyone in the medical field should be paid on time. If you delay remuneration for anybody, be it the president or the village elder, you have The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}