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{
    "id": 553147,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/553147/?format=api",
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    "content": "Bill to be brought here but not our choice. The courts have ruled that this House has a mandate in making sure that it contributes in the passing of that Bill. We have to come out very strongly. Yesterday, we cautioned the Executive that any delay or rejection of that Bill will put counties into a serious financial crisis which will affect service delivery. The Government needs to think twice. Money that we have demanded and negotiated quite successfully should have gone to counties on the basis of functions that have been transferred. This is money that should have gone to the counties. Therefore, that is a matter that Members should be alert to. Yesterday, we also approved the Public Audit Bill; a very important Bill that deals with the Auditor-General’s Office. We made sure that in terms of his independence, both financially and functionally, that is guaranteed in the Bill. The National Assembly also passed the Bill yesterday. However, I have heard that even after it was passed, there may be something up the sleeves of Members of the National Assembly. We also need to come out very strongly and defend the need to ensure that the Bill is signed into law. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this House did quite a bit on the issues of Petitions and Motions and I think we successfully concluded the Petition relating to Narok County. The fact that there are many petitions that have this particular Session; I think five or so new Petitions, I think it is a clear indication that all is not well in our counties. In particular, I want to emphasize the role of the MCAs. If the MCAs carried out their mandate effectively, some of those issues that have been brought to this House would not have been brought. In fact, two of the petitions; the one from Vihiga, Kisumu and the one that was read are actually by the MCAs themselves. It is the MCAs who have not been able to find a solution to this matter within the Assemblies. I think it is important that we emphasize to the MCAs that there is need for them to build capacity and this is why when we come back, there is a very important Motion that will come to this House regarding the budget ceilings for the county governments. This financial year, our Committee on Finance, Commerce and Budget is working to ensure that MCAs get adequate funding so that in terms of financial capacity, they have no excuse whatsoever for not being able to deliver their mandate. There are also very many petitions that we will deal with when we come back. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, these two weeks will actually give some committees time to focus on some of these issues that have been pending before their respective committees. The Senate has had a pretty high profile this Session in particular because during this Session, the National Assembly got a lot of negative publicity when the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) headed by the able Member of the party that is sitting across was actually dissolved because of questions of integrity. There were also problems with the Committee on Agriculture and so on. I think it is important to emphasize that this House has continued to enjoy the confidence of Kenyans in terms of integrity and the performance of the Members and we need to continue with that good profile. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think the Executive needs to respect the Senate because this particular Constitution introduced a bicameral Parliament. I think we must internalize this bicameral system that has been brought in by this Constitution. I think there are still people in Government who think that this is accidental or probably the 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."
}