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{
"id": 525369,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/525369/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "February 17, 2015 SENATE DEBATES 42 Sen. Abdirahman",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I stand to second this very important amendment. Devolution is an essential pillar in our Constitution. Two years after its inception, we are still having serious challenges. These challenges are being experienced because the Senate is not able to function as expected, in line with the proposal that has already been put forward. Two weeks ago, there was the so-called World Bank report that was merely a collection of figures from the Controller of Budget. A number of counties, including Wajir County Government, said that they were very happy with that performance. I, for one, was not happy with it, because you may spend 60 per cent of what you are allocated but what impact have these projects made? What changes are we experiencing in terms of livelihood? You can implement a project, but probably funds were embezzled. Was there accountability of these funds? Madam Temporary Speaker, the proposals presented by the King of Meru, Sen. Kiraitu, with regard to capacity building in the counties, monitoring and evaluation of projects that are funded and entrenching devolution will be very important, hence the need to allocate funds to perform this. Many a time, governors and a few other people in certain quarters have complained of duplication of functions. Particularly, when the Senate speaks about a little allocation of funding, they think that we are coming out to actually implement projects. We are not making any proposal - let this be very clear – with regard to implementation of physical projects. We are saying that we require little funds allocated with a view to capacity building, creating community empowerment and ensuring that these projects or funds that have been planned for use, particularly for development, do not go to waste. Madam Temporary Speaker, there is evidence in many counties of knowledge and skills gap. I am sure that if you look at the Transition Authority reports, there is evidence of lack of skills and knowledge in a number of counties, hence the need to build them. There is little connectivity between the various players at the county, just like what my colleague, Sen. Kiraitu, had talked about a one-day small meeting trying to talk about collation of information with regard to projects and calling it an integrated development plan. In the earlier days, there used to be the district development plans that were coherently planned from the grassroots to the national level. This does not take place in our counties today. This will give an opportunity to create linkages between the various actors in devolution; the Governors, Senators, ward representatives, communities and other interested stakeholders. Finally, participation is key to achieving development. What is now labeled as participation by community groups is really not what should have been called participation. The elected representatives must get an opportunity to make an input. I want to conclude by saying that this is very important. Allocating a small percentage to those three areas that I mentioned, to undertake particularly, monitoring and evaluation (ME), capacity building and entrenching devolution, will definitely make a difference. If we do that in the next three years and create some little change in this formula--- I do not think that we are deducting anything from the counties. This can be ring-fenced specifically for use to undertake this principal function of the Senate. 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."
}