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"content": "here in the Senate and very few of us know the details of the annual budgets of our counties. If we do not get to understand the details of what goes on in our counties and their needs, it is very difficult for us to represent our counties. Therefore, based on Article 96 (1), where the Senate is given the responsibility to protect and represent the interests of counties, the proposed County Development Boards, under the amendment Bill, will provide that platform. Mr. Speaker, Sir, a lot of issues have been raised. If you look at Article 96 (2), we are given the responsibility, as the Senate, to make legislation. It is important that we make it clear in this House that the Constitution does not give us the responsibility to make legislation that pleases Governors, Members of the National Assembly or any other institution. As a House, we have the responsibility and mandate to think through what kind of legislation is needed to enable the county governments to run. I think that this is one of the legislation that we are proposing. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we are expected, as Members of the Senate, to determine the allocation to the counties, but more importantly, to carry out oversight. How could a Member of this House oversight county governments, when we have no idea what goes on in the counties or what financial needs our counties have? We have not even contributed to the development of the county budgets at the county level. It is very possible that at the end of the term of the Eleventh Parliament, we will have counties where the Governors and Senators have not had a platform to meet. I, for one, meet with my Governor in social places, including funerals and weddings. We cannot engage and discuss matters affecting our counties if we cannot have a formal platform for the Senate and county governments to engage. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Members of the National Assembly participate in discussions over the Division of Revenue Bill. For them to effectively participate in those discussions, they also need to understand the financial needs of our counties. I think that this platform, through the County Development Boards, as proposed in my amendment Bill, seeks to provide for that particular engagement. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the discussions out there over this proposed Amendment Bill, a lot of issues were raised by various other stakeholders, particularly, on the distinctiveness between the national Government and the county governments. I want to clarify that it is not proper that we do selective reading of the Constitution. Whereas Article 6 (2) of the Constitution provides that the governments at the national and county level are distinct, it goes on to provide that they are distinct and interdependent. Why are we overemphasizing the distinctiveness of the county governments without looking at the element of interdependence? Therefore, we must be able to provide for a platform that will ensure that members of the county governments, the National Assembly and the entire leadership at the county level are able to engage. This is what is provided under the County Development Boards that I am proposing in this Amendment Bill. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there is need to create synergy and coordinate development at the county level. As I speak, we have resources going through the county governments; the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) and Uwezo Fund. Sen. Billow earlier sought your directions with regard to regulations on Uwezo Fund. That means that we The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}