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{
    "id": 705645,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/705645/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 128,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Ghati",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 856,
        "legal_name": "Dennitah Ghati",
        "slug": "dennitah-ghati"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker for the opportunity to contribute on this very important Bill. I am also happy with this Bill from the Senate that seeks to ensure that our counties are run somehow independently. As you are aware, we at the National Assembly, have the PSC that basically looks at our welfare and other issues that we have to talk about. Looking at the various counties, devolution provided immense opportunities for our people at the grassroots to be represented at that level. Unfortunately, most of our counties have not performed very well. Most of the MCAs have been discharging their duties at the mercy of the governors. I am very sure and confident that with this Bill, we are now going to have serious county assemblies that are working and the assemblies are going to have their boards which are going to dictate and inform how they are going to work. What I am happy about the Bill is the fact that it will have its own budget which is going to assist in the running of these assemblies. What I wish to see and what I am still very happy about is that the various county assemblies are going to align themselves with the national values that we all ascribe to as legislators and as MCAs. I support. But we still have a few things that we have to fine tune and which we will definitely talk about when it comes to the Committee of the whole House stage. One of them which I have an issue with is Clause 9 which talks about the qualifications and procedure of appointment of the county assembly service board. It is good. Clause 9(1)(b) talks about one having to hold a degree from a university. We are all aware that most of our counties are not at the same level, especially when it comes to education. That is why when we talk about degrees and diplomas, we have to go back to our various counties and look at our history. We have to go down to the communities which have been disadvantaged in terms of access to education. Those are the small things that put our people back when it comes to competitive politics. I have an issue with Clause 9(1)(b) that says that one has to hold a degree from a recognised university. It is not always the same. Our counties are not homogeneous. We have counties where MCAs are still struggling to upgrade their education. We may be cutting out other potential members who could have formed these boards. If you look at my community, the Kuria community, you will find that it is no doubt we are trying to put our education levels a bit high. Migori County that I represent here, for example, is cosmopolitan. What I am happy about is the fact that if we are looking at the issue of national values, we are going to include issues of gender. We look at gender and diversity. What I am happy about, for example, is the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}