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{
    "id": 392968,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/392968/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 181,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Musila",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 94,
        "legal_name": "David Musila",
        "slug": "david-musila"
    },
    "content": "Ministry of Local Government, I am told that they have simply taken out lists of staff without any evaluation and without assessing the needs of counties so that they only post people who are needed there. What they have done is just count numbers and post them to Kitui County, for example. Some of them are probably people who have had bad records and the Ministries are trying to get rid of the so-called bad officers at the expense of counties. Again, the money that we are giving to counties - most of it is being used to pay salaries of these officers who may not be necessary in the counties. Therefore, I am urging that there should be close consultations. The counties should give their requirements to the national Government. They should be able to say how many accountants they want and how many administrators they want and then forward the names with their files. Some interview process should be done so that counties are taking only what they want but not to be given staff who they do not require or whose capacity is wanting. Mr. Speaker, Sir, these are very important issues that we must resolve. We have had challenges this financial year and I want to believe that these are teething problems. I would like to believe that come next financial year, we are going to see stand-alone counties that are able to deliver. As I speak, out there, wananchi are disillusioned. On one hand, they are not getting services from the national Government because the national Government is saying that these activities are under the Fourth Schedule. They say that these activities are devolved. On the other hand, the counties have not taken off. An example is the state of roads in this country. Two years ago, there were heavy rains that washed away bridges and roads but the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) have not released funds to maintain these roads. The sufferers are wananchi who are not able to access their areas. Very soon, we are going to have rains again and God knows what is going to happen to communication and transportation within our counties because of this impasse where people are looking at the national Government and yet it is saying that this is a function of the county government. In the process, we are going to suffer a lot. I would like to urge that the national Government quickly goes into the process of releasing funds for all the functions that are to be devolved without wasting time. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there has been the issue of releasing money on a monthly basis. It cannot work. You cannot be releasing money every month and there are delays but we expect services to be delivered by the counties. We want money to be released twice per year or at least quarterly. By releasing money monthly, you will find workers and contractors not being paid on time. Therefore, this will be inviting stoppages, strikes and discontent among workers and suppliers of goods and services. Therefore, I want to urge the national Government to release money that is going to run for quite some time in the counties so that they can provide the required services. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the final point I want to make was alluded to by Sen. Karaba and this concerns the harmony within the county assemblies. Hardly a day goes by without reading in the press about squabbles to remove the speaker or impeaching the governor, the removal of the Majority Leader and so on. These squabbles are reminiscent of the former county councils. I want to plead with Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) to know that they have graduated from that era of being county councilors. They The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}