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{
    "id": 404556,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/404556/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 114,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Sen. Chelule, Sen. Njoroge, Sen. Karaba, Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo, Sen. Billow, Sen. (Dr.) Zani, Sen. Hargura, Sen. Dulo, Sen. Mungai and Sen. Hassan. These were serious contributions. A lot of suggestions that came out are issues that we have agreed on. We know that we will have an opportunity during the Third Reading where we shall have further amendments that we shall consider. From all the contributions, we all agree that we are not reinventing the wheel. If you look at the history of this country, we had the district focus for rural development. This was ably captured by the Acting Senate Minority Leader. We also had the District Development Committee, the task force report on devolved governments which had anticipated this kind of a framework. Therefore, this Bill does not reinvent the wheel. It takes up lessons from some of the previous institutions and we have been able to move this forward. We have all agreed that there is need for coordination, synergy and harmonization of development at the county level in order to avoid duplication and create efficiency and prudent use of public resources. The proposed County Development Board will go a long way in addressing some of these issues. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the County Development Board provides a platform for inclusive and participatory leadership. This has been canvassed in all the discussions that were alluded to in this House. We also all agree that the County Development Board framework enhances accountability, fairness and transparency with regard to the management of public affairs at the county level. This is a platform that will be able to address disparities at the various county levels, amongst the wards within a county and disparities amongst the constituencies that we have. It also provides concrete structures under which the Senate, whose responsibility under Article 96 of the Constitution is to provide oversight over county governments and the utilization of resources can operate. More importantly, this forum will provide an opportunity for peer review. As elected leaders within the counties, whether our mandates fall within the national Government, there is need for a framework that provides an opportunity for us to carry out peer review amongst ourselves. This County Development Board provides that framework. Some of the concerns that were raised with regard to the composition of the Board have been noted. Some of the Senators noted that we need to look at the numbers of this Board so that we do not have a bloated Board that will not be able to execute its mandate efficiently and effectively. This will be considered. Some of the Senators have raised the need to look at the specific membership with regard to, specifically, the Deputy Governor; whether there is need to have him on Board when the Governor is seated in the same Board. Those are some of the things we will consider during the Third Reading. We have also gotten some suggestions with regard to adding a component that one of the functions of this Board will also be to look at issues to do with conflict management and resolution at the county level. I think these are some of the things that we will add to this Bill when looking at possible further amendments. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I think it is important to note that this Bill and this House intends that devolution succeeds. The sole responsibility for the existence of this House is to ensure that devolution succeeds. Therefore, it is very absurd for anybody to imagine that a Bill would emanate from this House that is intended to kill devolution. This was brought out by Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki in explaining that when we talk about 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"
}