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{
    "id": 494916,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/494916/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 135,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Abdalla",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 382,
        "legal_name": "Amina Ali Abdalla",
        "slug": "amina-abdalla"
    },
    "content": "the only level of Government with the capacity or powers to set up parastatals. They were more interested because there were inputs from the counties that they be given permission to do their own dams and those facilities. As I said, because that is the role of the national Government, we will be urging this House to appreciate that for the national Government to meet the requirements of Article 43(d) of the Constitution, that requires us to give water of good quality and in sufficient amounts, it would be impossible for the national Government to meet those requirements without being allowed to have institutions that would manage it for them. Finally, the fifth function of the national Government that we intend to ensure that it is fully operationalised in this Bill is the function of capacity building and technical assistance to counties. Whereas counties are free to do public works, especially in sanitation and water provision, the national Government would be able to provide capacity building and technical assistance which we have then reflected in the functions of the national Government. Hon. Deputy Speaker, when we looked at the functions of the counties, it was clear to us that policy development remains a national Government function and implementation of those specific national Government policies on natural resources, environment, soil and water conservation would then be given to counties. Without pre- empting debate, this is an important distinction to make because we will be bringing you another Bill where national Government institutions purport to implement national policies on natural resources and we will be removing that power that happens to be a great source of confusion for that sector. Hon. Deputy Speaker, the second function of county Governments that we intend to include are the issues of county public works and service provisions, including storm water management in built up areas and sea water and sanitation. For us, it has been a hard decision to make because a lot of us have had to undergo serious metamorphosis. You know, we passed the Constitution but we have not internalized it. A lot of times, we get involved in providing funding for sanitation and water distribution programmes. It is very clear that, that is a county function and in this Bill we will be presenting amendments that clearly do not give that kind of function to any national Government institution because we want to live the Constitution and not just give it lip service support. I believe all Members have read this Bill and I am not sure I have the time to take them through the different sections, but being the Mover, let me just do a quick one on it. Hon. Deputy Speaker, Part I of the Water Bill talks about preliminary provisions. These are definitions and the rest. Part II talks about the ownership use and management of water resources. Without repeating myself, it is very clear that water resources are vested in the national Government in trust for the people of Kenya. Part III is on regulation of the water management, that is, regulation and use of water resources. This is the section that establishes the Water Resource Regulatory Authority, gives it functions and how it will operate. It also deals with water resource users associations.We will be making a lot of amendments in these bodies in light of the different functions for the two levels of Government. As I said before, Part IV will be talking to the national water services strategy which is what the Cabinet Secretary, as the head of policy and coordination, will be The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}