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{
    "id": 505229,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/505229/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 98,
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    "content": "things among them growth, faster development and assist the county government to raise some revenue through rates and charges because municipalities come with commensurate charges, rates and taxes. Mr. Speaker, Sir, thirdly, the Bill seeks to amend the Urban Areas and Cities Act to empower urban areas and cities to impose rates and charges for the time being in force until a new law in that regard is enacted. The Constitution of Kenya of 2010, in particular Article 210(1) provides that county governments may not impose any taxes, including rates and charges unless there is national legislation allowing such imposition. Up to now, there is no such legislation yet counties and county governments require to impose rates and charges in their urban areas. Therefore, what this Miscellaneous Amendments Bill is trying to do, is to give legitimacy to county governments to impose charges and rates using the rates that are already existing until there is a new law under Article 210(1) of the Constitution which says that such taxation measures can only be imposed when there is national legislation from the national Parliament. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as far as the Urban Areas and Cities Act is concerned, those are the key amendments. The rest are very small. For example, there are typos and terminological errors here and there. The third legislation that is amended by this proposed law is the County Governments Act of 2012, which Members know is the most important and fundamental legislation relating to devolution outside the Constitution. In this regard, it is proposed through this Bill to reduce the number of minimum electoral wards in a county from 15 to 10. I know this is a very, I do not want to say controversial, but this is a matter that definitely needs to be debated thoroughly. We need to know the merits and the demerits so that when this House passes this Bill, we are passing a Bill that helps grow devolution, democracy and representation of the people in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution of Kenya of 2010. Mr. Speaker, Sir, other than that, it is proposed to amend the County Governments Act to establish a consultative forum at the level of every county, between the county government and recognized professional bodies at the county level. Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me to say the following. There is a big disconnect in our counties today between county governments and the people who are being served by those governments. Part of that disconnect is not caused by anybody or by any institution. It is not caused by county executive, county legislature and individual office holders like governors and County Executive Committee members (CECs). It is caused by lack of an appropriate legislative framework to ensure the connection between the people being served and the government that is serving those people. Why do I emphasise the need for this connection? Why do I say that this connection is anti-devolution? This is because Article 174 of the Constitution provides for the objects of devolution. If you read all those seven or eight objectives or purposes for which devolution exists and principles for which devolution is founded, you will see that this revolves around involving people and ensuring that people participate in the development of their counties. 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."
}