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{
    "id": 775037,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/775037/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 301,
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    "content": "to get our children good secondary schools when they are joining form one. We have problems of diseases to tackle. Our children get sick from all manner of diseases since there are no decent health facilities for treatment at the local level. Our people involve themselves in fundraising activities. It is a common feature for our people to send patients to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Eldoret, the Nairobi Hospital, India or South Africa for treatment. We need to address these concerns in the society, both at national and county levels. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if we are making administrative arrangements in creating the boroughs like what the London City has done for convenience of goods and services, then I will support this Bill. This is because I know it will create job opportunities for parents, wazees and young men in our country. Instead of them coming to Nairobi, they will look at their town and village that has created opportunities for them as a place to work. They will have a chance to work and a sense of ownership that they belong to that place and can do something useful.That is the way I see this Bill. Its development eventually should not just be creating an empty structure. I suggest that the drafters of the Bill at the Committee stage should put meat into it so that they can say, “Yes, we are reducing the population from 500,000 to 250,000 for a town to be upgraded to a city status.” Every town would like to be called a city. All the 47counties are potentially 47 cities. However, they should be such with a purpose. To me, at the end of this exercise, they should be serving the population that is resident in that area. With all the attendant facilities that I have mentioned from governance which we have already said will be done by the county governor and his team, the human rights issues which are legislative in nature and will be looked after by both the governor and the County Assemblies, but, fundamentally, what does it potent to that mother who is vending her vegetables in a small market in that village at the end of the day? Does she sit waiting the whole day only selling items worth Kshs20, Kshs50 orKshs100? I will accept the concept of urbanisation as creating a population capable to sustain commercial activities in that centre. Therefore, there is mutuality in benefiting from one another. The planning of the urban and town centre, the social facilities alongside the economic activities is every important in attracting the population and their sustainability. However, creating a bare structure is confining this thing to another level where people will see them as monuments and will have no value for anybody. I would have started hearing from the Government side that they have now agreed on expanding the resources to devolution and support to the county governments to the extent of 45 percent. If they start with that, then as Senators,we will say that the county governments have money and now charge them with the responsibility of creating these structures. Eventually, that is what devolution is all about. Nevertheless resource sharing must be equitable to each and everyone of them. They should not be concentrated at one level. Then we should say, yes! County Government of Kisii, Tharaka-Nithi--- I am sorry, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are all brothers and sisters in one way or the other. I am referring to that because we are the most hit, population wise, we have very high populations and our counties are almost becoming semi urban centres.You 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."
}