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{
    "id": 733108,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/733108/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 220,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": "governments, it is actually embarrassing, especially if you look at the astronomical amounts that were given to the governors. Going forward, I hope Kenyans will be serious this time in electing governors; that they will elect not just politicians but politicians who can deliver to their people. Let me give an example of Mbita. I can count the number of classrooms we have built through NG-CDF. We can also count the number of maternity centres, roads and special programmes that we have done through NG-CDF. I do not want to pinpoint a specific county but if you go to counties and walk around, it is difficult to pinpoint projects in the same manner. That is why I am hoping this time round Kenyans will be wise enough to consider not just electing politicians but politicians who can also deliver. It is unfortunate that we have spent so many years fighting for devolution and you can see many people considering backtracking. You have already heard people say: “Perhaps health should have been taken back to the national Government.” Ideally, we should be thinking towards devolving everything when the systems are working. We should eventually devolve education and healthcare. Maybe security and international relations should not be devolved, but if we want to empower our communities, all these services should eventually be devolved. Devolution can only occur if demand comes from Kenyans, and the demand can only come from Kenyans if they see the results of devolution. Hon. Deputy Speaker, last week the Council of Governors (CoG) completed their Annual Summit on Devolution. I guess it is now a bit too late to put challenge to them. The challenge will be placed to them through their respective constituencies. It is unfortunate that we have had a crisis in the public health sector as a result of the long doctors’ strike. There is no resolution in sight. I would like to encourage the national Government and the doctors to resolve this matter amicably. The hard stance held by either party is not helping us. I know very many people who have lost their lives. Yesterday, I fell ill and sought medical attention at a private hospital. Not many people out there are as lucky as we are so as to seek medical attention from private hospitals. When I went to the Nairobi Hospital, I immediately noticed the strain we have put on private hospitals following the closure of public hospitals. That is not what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to talk about the prevailing crisis in our health care system and the points that the doctors have made through their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Government as regards the things that need to be done. The conditions under which doctors and nurses work are absolutely pathetic. I took the opportunity to sit down and discuss this issue with my own Governor when I visited Homa Bay Hospital. All I heard was the blame game about the national Government disbursing resources late and in piece meal, and consequently denying county Governments timely access to funds required for them to deliver services. Without saying too much, I would like to encourage us, if we mean well for this country that, devolution is the way to go. I would like to disagree with those who are calling for return of some devolved functions to the national Government. It is true that devolution in this country has its own challenges but I would like us to consider the first lot of county governments as transitional because this is something we are experimenting for the first time. As we move on with the new dispensation, there has been a lot of learning. All I can say is that there is room now for perfection. I hope that moving forward we will provide a legislative framework similar to the NG-CDF Act, so that all the projects undertaken within the county governments can go through county project management committees. Such 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."
}