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{
    "id": 396703,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/396703/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 151,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "transferred to the counties, our young people in the rural areas will not have access to these contracts. There are so many other procedures including procurement laws and regulations which do not allow our young people to compete for these contracts. In a situation where services are retained at the national Government, the young people in the village will not access those contracts. If we transfer these functions to the counties, the governor and the leadership of the county including the Senator can sit down and award contracts to the young people. This will ensure employment for the young people, reduce insecurity, and also ensure that our people get experience. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, my concern is on the issue of harmonizing the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) and the money allocated to counties for roads. This is another issue that we have to talk about and agree because at the end of the day, if a Member of Parliament allocates Kshs10 million to a certain road in the county, then the governor allocates another amount for the same road, what happens? This means that we are just rotating and not going anywhere. That is why all of us have to sit down so that we can do a uniform job and all the roads are properly done and people are held accountable. The other issue is transparency and accountability. In the rural areas, people cannot see transparency when all the functions are still at the national level. When you take these functions to the people, they will know who constructed the road and, therefore, can make someone accountable. At the end of the day, it is the governor who will be responsible in the counties. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, regarding the roads that cut across counties, county governments can agree that if there is a road, for example, cutting across Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo-Marakwet, they can agree on percentages for each county. At the end of the day, the roads will be done and the national government will see the work done. The reason why we are pushing for this is because we want our people to have good lives. We want those farmers who produce milk, vegetables and fruits to access the market and sell their produce to improve their living standards. As a Senate, we are concerned with issues of devolution, so we must ensure that this money is taken to the counties. After this, the Senate should play its rightful role, that is, oversight. We have to agree on how we intend to carry out this oversight role. At the end of the day, this money will be taken to the counties but what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the governor can give an account of how much has been spent on a road? If money is allocated and somebody does not make a follow up, it will encourage corruption. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}