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{
    "id": 263144,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/263144/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 122,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Njuguna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 20,
        "legal_name": "Peter Njuguna Gitau",
        "slug": "peter-gitau"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity to input on this very important Bill. Let me, first of all, start by thanking the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government for a job well done. I also extend my appreciation to all the stakeholders who participated in this process. I cannot also forget the good work done by Mutakha Kangu’s Taskforce and the Kenya Land Alliance. Clause 3 is talking mainly about consultation between County Governments. It is important that stronger emphasis is paid on this clause. Real harmony must be maintained between County Governments if this Government will realize any social and economic growth. Peaceful coexistence must be the responsibility of the county Government. We should not forget that recently we had sour relationships when Migingo Island was taken by our hostile neighbour. Therefore, it is important for peaceful coexistence to be maintained between the County Governments. Border incursion is another area that needs to be addressed by these newly created County Governments. We have seen the pastoralists moving from one area of this country to the other. However, they have been facing some hurdles when they are moving with their livestock. The County Government must address some of these problems with a human face. It will also be very important for county boundaries to be marked clearly before the creation of these County Governments. Beacons must be fixed so that even our children in our counties will know the boundaries of their individual counties. Even maps must be sent to schools, so that the teachers will handle this education well in advance. Another key component in this clause is sharing of resources. We know that forests are expansive in some regions of this country. If enough consultation and engagements are not done, these counties will trigger some problems. We know that some counties are richer than others. Therefore, fruitful engagement is important so that those richer counties can afford grants and loans to the less endowed counties. The road and rail network transport can also trigger some problems if not well addressed between these counties. These two cannot be confined in one given area. Given counties must address the issue of drought with sobriety, so that unnecessary flare-ups are avoided. On the national County Government, this will be a key component in the inter- government relations. Therefore, the summit is a very important body. The summit must be able to evaluate the performance of the young county government. The period stipulated in the Bill of three times in a year is not sufficient because these young counties will have numerous problems to be addressed. Therefore, I would propose quarterly meetings in a year, so that all the disputes developing will be addressed. On the council of county governments, I would suggest that it is important to note that ladies in this country will be competing for the governorship positions. When they win, they should be considered to take leadership in the council of county governments. Gender balance should be taken into consideration when we fill various positions in the county governments. When looking at the Bill, it does not say where the seat of the county government will be. I propose that this council meeting must be done on rotational basis in our cities in the country. Initially, we must have the first one in Nairobi. The other meetings can be held in other cities and towns. Concerning the dispute mechanisms, it will be important to know how to settle various disputes that may arise in a county. They must be addressed immediately to avoid in any infighting. We have seen on the discovery of oil in certain African countries like Niger and Nigeria fights have flared up. Therefore, the 21 days given will be like settling a dispute within a very long period. I would propose that we reduce it to 14 days, so that if there are real fights or serious concerns that are likely to affect the lives of the people, be addressed within that period. By so doing, a single life will not be lost. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have not seen in this Bill how the removal of an ineffective chairman will be done. Therefore, a mechanism must be developed on how a non-performing chair must be kicked out immediately to allow the council to perform as expected. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}