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{
    "id": 404067,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/404067/?format=api",
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    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the same applies to Members of the National Assembly. They are the voice of the people in their constituencies. The same applies to the MCAs. They are the voice of the people in the county assembly. That is why in the amendments that we are proposing, we are proposing, not only the County Development Forum for the entire county chaired by the Senator who is the voice of the people, but we are also saying that even at the Constituency level and the sub-county level, let the Member of Parliament as the voice of the people in that constituency chair the development forum. At the ward level, let the MCA as the voice of the people in that ward chair a similar body at that level. Therefore, there should really be no confusion whatsoever. I know the Governors wanted to chair, but I think my Vice-Chairman has answered them well here and I do not want to repeat that. After having said that, I would like to answer those who said that the Senate cannot undertake certain roles. I want to tell them that Senators are the voice of the people. This has been affirmed by the advisory opinion of the Supreme Court of this country. The advisory of opinion of the Supreme Court of this country has stated in clear terms that the Senate also represents the people of the county. Therefore, there is no need to argue about this. Sometimes I wonder why some people agree with us and then after one week they are saying other things. I wonder what their motivation is. Do they want to be Governors or Senators? They keep on changing their language when they had earlier on agreed with us on exactly what we are stating. As I said, we agreed, but then afterwards I have been hearing some noises. I do not where those noises are coming from. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would very much want this debate to be done taking into account, not only the published Bill by Sen. Sang, but also the amendments that we have put to it. One of the amendments is that this Bill is not anchored in Section 111 of the County Governments Act, but in Section 91 of the County Governments Act. That is the section that I have just quoted, which clearly states that the elected leaders must be given the avenue to also participate in the affairs of the county. So, that is a change from Section 111 to Section 91. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as far the functions are concerned, we say: “The board will adopt.” So, whenever the word “adopt” appears we have agreed that it should read “make recommendations on.” This is because this board, as the Mover rightly stated, is not an executive board to make decisions which will be implemented, but a board which provides a consultative forum, which will come up with recommendations and advice from time to time. We do hope that because those recommendations and advice will have been given by consensus in those fora of leaders and so on, they will be of persuasive authority to whoever is implementing them, whether in the county assemblies or county executive. They will be very persuasive and you will vary them at your own peril. So, this board will be purely advisory and will make recommendations. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have added another clause, which reads:- “This board will consider and make recommendations on any issue of concern that may arise within the county.” 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"
}