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{
    "id": 439166,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/439166/?format=api",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "As Sen. Wetangula has said, this Bill will not end this afternoon. It will have to go to its Third Reading. If there are issues in any county that should be included in this Bill, then during the Committee of the Whole, we will have an opportunity to make amendments. You can do it yourself or you request me as the Mover of the Bill so that I give the amendment without giving notice to the Speaker of the House. In so doing, everything will be brought to focus. I would like to comment on a very serious matter that was raised both by myself, at the beginning and spoken to by many Members; the cost of infrastructure. This must be attractive in this Bill. There are counties that are operating from makeshift structures. Owing to the sharable revenue, it has been difficult to set aside funds specifically for that need. If this Bill goes through, then we will have the locus standi to approach the national Government and say that these two, three or one counties requires conditional allocation to cater for construction of the infrastructure instead of using the devolved funds. The important issue of spending is such that it hurts me. If I can give an example of Kakamega County, last year, millions of shillings were put aside for purposes of the improvement of the Office of the Governor and possibly that of the county assembly. Again, in the new financial year, they have also set aside Kshs150 million for the Office of the Governor and the residence of the Governor. A county like Kakamega does not require that kind of expenditure. That county does not need to spend that kind of money, Kshs150 million, into the construction of the Governor’s House or further improvement of the Office of the Governor for the reason that this was the provincial headquarters in the previous regime. We have the best infrastructure by way of the former provincial headquarters. The current County Commissioner can only use one block. In Kakamega, we have four separate blocks. Our Governor should move into one and start operating. All he would need is a coat of paint and nothing else. Therefore, we do not need to use Kshs150 million. Secondly, the former residence of the Provincial Commissioner of Kakamega is one of the most secure scenic places in Kakamega, right next to the residence of the President, the Kakamega State Lodge. The Governor needs to move to that building and does not have to spend Kshs150 million. This is something that Members of the County Assembly of Kakamega should put into consideration when they will be debating this budget. The issue raised by Sen. Wetangula and Sen. Machage about the issue of sub-county headquarters, through your consultation, I am provoked to make an amendment to my Bill at the Third Reading so that we provide a reminder to county assemblies the way they are expected to legislate with respect to their county sub-headquarters within their counties. This will remove controversy. Since Sen. Haji said this, it is important to use this particular clause to remind him and some of the MCAs and people who think that we are usurping the role of the county assemblies to see that we have left that part so that they deal with it because it is within their jurisdiction. There is also, in your contribution, something that has provoked me. Members may say that what we decide here is final. 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."
}