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{
    "id": 393009,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/393009/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 222,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Abdirahman",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 161,
        "legal_name": "Abdirahman Ali Hassan",
        "slug": "abdirahman-ali-hassan"
    },
    "content": "Mombasa County, particularly talks about the drug menace and issues of land that have bedeviled that particular county for a long time. Madam Temporary Speaker, I was encouraged to see the public hearing forum presenting issues that relate to even the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). It clearly tells you the gap in terms of coordination. I am sure that the Bill that has been brought to the House by Sen. Sang will now come in handy, so that the expectations of the communities are actually addressed through such avenues or legislation. Madam Temporary Speaker, I realize that the committees had an opportunity to talk to the county executives, Members of the County Assemblies and the public. But I feel that all is not complete without speaking to the other arms that have got elements that deal with devolution, including the national Government and the constitutional commissions that have in one way or the other got some relationship with regard to the implementation of devolution at our lower levels and from the national level. So, I feel that probably the committee should go ahead. I am sure that they have an opportunity to actually relate with the other institutions so that we can get the correct perspective because the gaps that are emerging in this Report cannot be wholly addressed without actually relating with the other Government institutions and institutional mechanisms put in place. Madam Temporary Speaker, I also realize that the role of the Senate has actually come up in this Report, particularly from the communities. They feel that the defender number one of their rights and interests is the Senate. I think that the communities are getting to understand. It is about time that other institutions, including the National Assembly that runs at par with the Senate and the governors who get threatened by the mere fact that the Senate is trying to say that we need better coordination, come to terms with the fact that the Senate has a very pivotal role to play in terms of bringing out the interests of communities at the grassroots. That is not something which can be underestimated. Madam Temporary Speaker, I also note with great respect the bit that talks about the County Integrated Development Plan. I happened to participate in the one that was held in my county and realized that it was rushed. Communities were getting worried of beating the deadline. I think that the recommendation of the Committee and even the community that these things should have been extended was very important. I contributed on this same Floor by saying that good plans have to precede funding. Unless you have good plans, you will duplicate or you may not implement projects that will last for many years to come. I also took note of the costing of functions, which was recommended by the Committee. This is something which when the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) shared out monies from the onset, by talking about costing, it did not actually take into account the various disparities in terms of development and various inequalities that have happened in this country. So, it is important – and the Committee has recommended – that they take this into consideration seriously. Madam Temporary Speaker, finally, I am impressed by what the Committee has done, but it is never complete without examining the roles of other players in the devolution process. Unless we do that, we will keep on bickering and saying that there 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."
}