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{
    "id": 262205,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/262205/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 74,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Ngugi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 112,
        "legal_name": "David Mwaniki Ngugi",
        "slug": "david-ngugi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill actualizes Chapter 11 of the Constitution. It also provides for what is in the national government to be duplicated in the County Governments. Having two levels of government means that whatever is happening at the national level should also be happening at the county government. So, the way this Bill is set is that, all the functions that are being carried out at the national level have also been devolved and are going to be carried out at the county government. That is why it establishes the County Assembly. In the national government, we have the National Assembly which is the body that is charged with making laws for the country, over- sighting the Executive and is also charged with representing the people at the constituency level. At the county level, the County Assembly is the body to do that work. It is the body that would be making the laws at the county level and over-sighting the executive. The Executive in this case at the county level is the governor, his executive at the county level. This then shows the separation of powers from the legislature to the executive and even to the judiciary. This is why it is important that we understand this Bill. We should also understand the Intergovernmental Relations Bill and the Transition to Devolved Government Bill. The three Bills are inter-related. So, when you read them together, the questions that you may ask or deficiencies that you may think are in the County Government Bill are covered in either the Intergovernmental Relations Bill or the Transition to Devolved Government Bill. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if we take the role of the Governor, he is like the President of the County. The functions of the President at the national level have been mirrored at the county level. However, there has been one or two shortcomings in the drafting of this Bill because if the Governor is the President at the county level, then he should be unfettered, just like the President at the national level in hiring and firing of his Ministers. At the county level, that is the Executive Committee. In this Bill, you will find that there is a suggestion that the Executive Committee should be employed on a competitive basis. That cannot be because at the national level, you cannot say that the President will get his Ministers from the Public Service Commission (PSC). The President hires his Ministers and has the right to fire his Minister for any reason. However, in this Bill, it has been provided that the Government can be petitioned by the County Assembly to fire his Ministers on certain grounds. So, it is really good because it is an extension of what happens at the national level."
}