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{
    "id": 591360,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/591360/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 83,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, Nandi County spent about Kshs2.5 million to build toilets in a market yet every centre has its own toilets. I am informed that in one of the counties, they are using wire mesh or what is popularly known as chicken mesh to build a perimeter wall in a market that has operated since 1963 in open space with clear room for expansion. However, since someone wants to make a lot of money before the next election, a contract is given. In my own county, there are questions that are pending and are yet to come here about building sheds for boda boda operators that cost about Kshs13 million. However, with one or two mabatis and three wooden poles, one would still build good sheds for those operators. People are misusing county resources. I am still waiting for a report that was tabled in my county assembly that relates to the building a house for our governor. I am told that the report is damning and it will be debated tomorrow. I have told my County Assembly Members (MCAs) that should they waiver in following the truth, I will be watching. Should they pass a different report, I will report here. The County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC) led by Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale will descend on Elgeyo-Marakwet County and ensure that accountability is achieved. Madam Temporary Speaker, this House must, therefore, have the teeth to bite and ensure that resources of the county are spent on the intended purpose. If the counties become an opportunity for us to enrich ourselves, then it is an arms race and I am worried. I said that during the transition from county councils to county governments my fear was that the mayors, chairmen and councilors of the defunct county councils were likely to misappropriate public funds because of the confusion of transition. However, in the transition to the first election under the county governments, I fear that the budget of 2015/2016, the county governments will be budgeting with the intention of raising campaign funds. Some of the governors know that they will not be reelected. Some are saying publicly that even if they are not reelected, they will continue leading a better life because they have made enough money. Madam Temporary Speaker, we did not devolve resources to create ‘lords’ at the local level who will preside over poverty in the local areas. We must have the teeth to bite, institutional framework and ability to stop money from going to counties which use resources for purposes of enriching themselves. That is the reason we have provided that the Auditor-General will present his reports directly to Parliament. His role should be independent. The Office of the Auditor- General is critical in as far as operation of national resources is concerned. We must ensure that the people working in this office are well vetted and that they uphold high standards of integrity. If the Auditor-General is not trusted, the county governments will bribe officers who go to audit them to clear a county government, entity or officer. It is for that reason that we said that the Senate must be allocated some resources for oversight, so that we can visit our counties, have meetings with the people, listen to them and do social audit of the functions performed at the county level. If people suspect that money could have been misappropriated in a particular county, they can have an opportunity to complain to us. We can use those resources to do audit and get reports for this House because we have to protect our resources. 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."
}