Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 477310,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/477310/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 242,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The law does not contemplate power sharing between the county assemblies and the county executive. I think Senators need to take note of this. In some counties, for example, county assemblies have demanded to be given money for development projects and they have been given. We have county assemblies that have actually been given money for wards. One is given Kshs10 million for a ward to do a project and bring a report. This is illegal. Many of these things are going to be flagged in the reports by the Auditor General. We understand the pressures the governors and the county executive are facing. If a county executive for finance does not approve that kind of funding or does not give them funding, then he is faced with impeachment. If the governor does not give money for development projects, then he faces impeachment. Whatever it is, we want to advise the county government, particularly the county executive; the governor and his team, that it would be illegal to do so. They will take responsibility. If money allocated to a county government has been misappropriated, someone will be responsible. The county executive will be responsible because they are the ones who are in charge of the money. They are the custodians. The county executive and the governor cannot release money because of the various pressures they face. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is important, therefore, to caution the county assemblies to restrict themselves to their responsibilities and not engage themselves in activities that are within the mandate of the county executive. In that regard, we shall be coming up with some proposals to amend the law to make it clear that the money they are getting will be enough for their work, salaries, allowances, and so forth, but not for development projects. Lastly, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to mention something that is the concern of many Kenyans. This is about the prudent use of funds. Openness and accountability is one of the critical principles that are provided for. The second most important principle is the prudent use of resources given to our counties. That is subject to our interpretation here. What is prudent use? We are reading about many things in the reports by the Controller of Budget and the ones by the Auditor-General regarding the way resources are being used. We are concerned that this is likely to delay devolution to the extent that Kenyans start feeling that the money that was given out for devolution is being used to line the pockets of others. They will start feeling as if the money is going into projects which do not benefit people and activities that do not add value. Kenyans will start asking tomorrow about the benefits of devolution. Already, some people have started asking; one year down the road, what have we seen in the counties? What can they touch as tangible development projects which they can say; yes, this was done by the county government? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I know that the mandate of the county governments includes service delivery. Of course, they have to provide drugs in hospitals and pay workers. We know that there are improvements in many counties. Hospitals have drugs. Dispensaries and health centres have nurses. Water is available because boreholes have been drilled. There are activities in many counties, but Kenyans still think that the money could be spent better. Various Committees of this House have the responsibility to ensure money allocated here, which is substantial, is spend prudently after which we should hold the county governments to account. 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."
}