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{
    "id": 404063,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/404063/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 285,
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    "content": "The other one which came from the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) was that they were not happy that the county women representatives were given the role of vice chairpersons. They felt that we should describe that in a more neutral fashion to say that if the Chairperson is male then the Vice-Chairperson should be female. I almost told them that they should have campaigned very hard for the women leaders to be elected in their own right as Senators of their respective counties. The other one was that the board appeared executive and, therefore, because it appeared executive, that is a function of the executive organ of Government and not the legislative organ of Government. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as the Mover of the Motion also stated, the Governors also wanted to chair the Board. They also wanted the name changed from the Board to the County Leaders Consultative Forum. The other objection which came from, particularly, the residents associations, was that the board should be expanded to include people other than the elected leaders. The final one was that the Bill ought to have been subjected to public participation before publishing. These are the very broad objections to the Bill. All of them came with these objections, but when we interacted further, they came to agree on one thing. They agreed that there is an urgent need to have a consultative forum at the county level which brings together all the leaders. That was agreed by nearly everybody. Secondly, when we suggested the type of amendments that we can make to the functions, they all agreed that if we made those amendments, they will, to a large extent be consistent with our Constitution. Therefore, our Committee embarked on that exercise. I want to assure the country that the Bill which we are now debating is very much constitutional. In fact, in enacting this particular Bill, we will be enhancing the implementation of the Constitution of this country and, in particular, the Devolution Chapter of the Constitution. It is because the Constitution is replete with much phraseology such as, we must have a participatory Government where everybody participates in the decision making process that affects them. The Constitution is also replete with the issue of freedom of expression which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information or ideas, which right belongs to everybody. Your rights are not curtailed merely because you are a Senator. You are also an individual in that particular county. Therefore, you have ideas to give, you can ask for information and also impart information and so on. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the principle of devolved Government is to enhance the participation of the people in the exercise of the powers of State and in making decisions affecting them. Once you take that into account, then you realize that the Bill which we have before us is very much consistent with the Constitution. In fact, this is the Bill which anchors the provisions of Section 91 (g) of the County Government Act which is already in place. That Section (g) provides that avenues must be made for elected leaders in the county, not limited to Senators and Members of the National Assembly, to participate in the affairs of the county. When they say, not limited to Senators or Members of the National Assembly, the only other elected leaders were the MCAs. This Bill anchors that particular section. It is implementing that particular section of the county Government Act which was enacted, pursuant to the provisions of the 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"
}