Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 184448,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/184448/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 187,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Kones",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 53,
        "legal_name": "Julius Kipyegon Kones",
        "slug": "julius-kones"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, let me join my colleagues in supporting the budget for the Ministry of Local Government. The Ministry is very critical in the development of this country. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, having looked at the budget for the Ministry, I have a few issues and concerns to raise. First of all, I want to know whether Bureti County Council is recognised as a county council. From the Printed Estimates, no allocation has been made to Bureti County Council. I will support this budget on condition that the Minister is going to make allocation to that county council just like the others. Another issue which has been dwelt on a lot by hon. Members is the welfare of councillors. I think it is a time bomb and the Ministry has to take it very seriously. I would like to put the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government on notice. While in a meeting with a number of councillors last weekend, they had a very clear message for him. They really want to be considered so that their salaries can be drawn from the Consolidated Fund. We know the principle behind the reason councillors are paid through the revenue generated from their councils. But looking at the issue, you will realise that most of the councils we have today are not economically viable. For example, the Bureti County Council where I come from, councillors have never been paid their salaries and allowances for the last four months. This is a very critical matter which I would like the Ministry to take seriously. I expect the Ministry to come up with some reforms. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, another important issue which I want to look at is the election of councillors whenever there is a vacancy. I am made to understand that whenever a councillor dies, there is no by-election for that ward, not unless a Member of Parliament dies so that a by-election is held to also fill the vacant wards in that particular county council. I think that is an area that needs to be looked into if that indeed is the case. If that is happening, then it means the number of councils which fall vacant as a result of death might necessitate killing a Member of Parliament so that a by-election is held."
}