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{
    "id": 674063,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/674063/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 307,
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    "content": "As we speak, there are situations where a County Public Service Board (CPSB) employed a sub-county administrator with a degree and another one a Class Seven drop out. Both of them are county administrators because as it is right now, the law does not provide for the minimum academic qualifications. So, you have somebody who has no understanding of devolution, neither can he articulate himself as a county administrator. He was appointed just because he was politically correct. This Bill clearly indicates there is an indictment on the part of the CPSB. The intention of the law that set up the CPSBs was to have a CPSB that is autonomous and able to professionalize the county administration in terms of recruitment. However, many of them are an appendage of the governor’s office and what they do is to regularize appointments made by the governor. The governor will say he needs so and so in charge of this and that ward as an administrator or in this position. The work of the CPSB is to regularize and ensure that they do what needs to be done to ensure that that outcome by the governor is achieved. That is the unfortunate situation. We have seen situations where Senators attempt to carry out some civic engagements which county governments are uncomfortable with. The next thing is that goons are hired to disrupt that function. If you care to know who are being used by governors to carry out this kind of business, you will find that it is the sub-county, ward and village administrators. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that is why as a House, we must strive not to just appear to look good and say that if you disagree with one provision of this Bill, well and good, you can bring an amendment. You cannot be supporting an entire Bill and then when one question is raised, you want to throw away the Bill. What is the role of the Senate in ensuring that devolution works? We are supposed to protect devolution and be critical. If we can amend a section of the law, let us do so but retain the good provisions in the Bill that try to professionalize the management of counties. Therefore, I call upon my colleagues that there comes a time when you have to show courage. I have seen many Short Message Services (SMSs) from the Associations of Ward Administrators (AWAs) or whatever they call themselves. I appreciate it because that is part and parcel of their right. They should be able to communicate with us. As Senators, let us look at it critically. If we disagree that we should not have minimum qualifications, then let us throw away the entire Bill. However, if we have a belief that each and every sub-county, village and ward administrator should have some minimum academic qualifications, let us look at it and ensure that we anchor it in this Bill. If we have a problem with that particular element of sending off existing sub-county administrators, we need to pause and think that all these sub-county administrators will not be there for good. Some of them will resign or vacate office for various reasons. However, we need to have a proper law that ensures a professional manner of appointment and recruitment of subsequent administrators. There is a continuous shift from employing people on permanent and pensionable terms towards contract basis in Government. This is because the best results are achieved when people are put on contract. We agree that there was a lacuna. I sit in that Committee where we carried out public participation and received views from these administrators. In this country, we have two sets of ward administrators in the counties. Some were 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"
}