Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1558495,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558495/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 316,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "matches at the regional competitions, but they now have started an under-12 division. This under-12 division means that they are bringing in young people to nurture talent. So, this is not just a club that has come in the whims. These are people who are very serious and dedicated in supporting football in Tana River County. It is a pity that the county government has not stepped up to its responsibility. So, it is time that we, as the Senate, legislate and say we need to put money aside for sport activities. We need to put money to support sports, especially clubs that have started and are struggling on their own. They are doing well under the difficult circumstances. I have seen young men who have had their school fees paid for because they are playing in the team. Their major problem is how to raise school fees. We sit together and assist them. They have formed a self-help group and it is helping them. This Sango Sportif has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that if we invest in sport, there is a direct benefit from sports to our people. I remember one time when we even had to take some young people from another team and make some financial arrangements for them to join this team and grow its strength. All this was being done by private individuals, leaders and ordinary members who were just giving contributions. It should not be this way. It should be that county governments taking up their responsibility for sports and develop actual talent where it can be noticed. This is not happening. So, for us to get the compulsive power to push sports and develop sports to higher level, this Bill should become law. Madam Temporary Speaker, I have heard colleagues here contributing and expressing their worry about where we shall find the money. I think that is a secondary concern. If Tana River County is getting Kshs8 billion as equitable share, then they should get 1 per cent to budget for sports development. We are not asking for extra money. We are asking that county governments take the responsibility to also develop sports. Some counties are not doing are not nurturing talents and developing sports facilities. In fact, counties like ours are only supporting the team that is in the county government and nothing more. So, I think we should support this law 100 per cent. Let us push it to the end, so that governors realise that sports and sports development is critical for the benefit of the youth of this country. Most times when we are doing campaigns, we tend to promise a lot. However, when we are in charge of the budget, we do different things from the things we had promised to the people. It is very sad. So, now we are forced to legislate from the top to say, there must be money set aside. This sports fund is not for the county team. It is not to buy uniforms for the county team. It is not supposed to be giving the CECM in charge of sports an opportunity to travel out of the country. Believe it or not, in Tana River County, it has happened. Some Members of County Assembly (MCAs) travelled to go and watch world cup football some years ago. They were taken to go and watch football outside the country. All that money was available for travel and emoluments, but it was not available for sports development. Madam Temporary Speaker, we would like the governors in this country to understand that this money is not supposed to be for officials. It is supposed to be for actual development of sports and sporting facilities in the county. 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."
}