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{
    "id": 491511,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/491511/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 131,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "and interrogate reports from the Auditor-General for the various counties, because we have adequately staffed Committees within the Senate. We do not expect members of the various committees in the county assemblies to carry out their oversight responsibilities if they do not have the adequate and efficient staff to help them carry out that mandate. How can they get these staff if we have budget ceilings that are being set by the same county executive which is oversighted by the same county assemblies? That proposal came to this House. We had a very sober discussion. We agreed that we amend the proposal by the governors that the budget ceilings are set by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA). We gave them an opportunity to recommend to this House, so that the Senate, knowing very well that we have these county assemblies with their responsibilities, we are able to give them adequate budgets for them to carry out their responsibilities. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, over and above the provisions within this Bill, we need to ensure that our counties and county assemblies have adequate resources, staff and facilities to enable them to carry out the three key mandates of any effective legislature. It is important that we are able to provide an opportunity for our county assemblies to engage and carry out their responsibilities. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, some of the issues being raised within the national debate, as we discuss about whether or not to go through a referendum - one of the issues that the governors have raised has been an attempt to hoodwink the MCAs by telling them that they will get an opportunity to acquire powers and privileges similar to those of Members of the Senate and the National Assembly. But MCAs are not cheap; they understand that some of these things need to be done through legislation. You cannot be able to have powers and privileges of the MCAs in an unconstitutional amendment. We hope that this Bill will suffice in terms of giving our county assemblies the autonomy, powers and privileges that they need. Our brothers who would want to persuade the MCAs that they should be able to support the referendum just because their issues are being catered for through an amendment to the Constitution, is a lie. This Bill will particularly sort out the issues that the MCAs need in terms of being properly facilitated."
}