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{
    "id": 811984,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/811984/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 74,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Under the general public participation guidelines, the right to proper information, where residents can understand what is going on, is properly brought out in this Bill, and I want to laud the drafter. Almost all counties are struggling with the issue of garbage collection. For example, if you visit Sen. Outa’s Kisumu County, you will find that there is a huge heap before Moi Stadium. The same challenge is experienced in Kisii County and my own county. Governors have been coming up with decisions in nice exclusive board rooms, saying that they will transfer garbage from one point to the other, without proper information to the residents. Therefore, they hit a snag. They are not able to succeed with that project because when they get to the point where they want to launch the project the residents ask them: “Governor, of all the things that you thought about bringing to our sub-county or village, you brought us garbage?” This is because the governors have not given them information for them to know that garbage is an industry, just like a shoe factory or any other business. We should look at garbage in terms of employment. A well run functional waste disposal system has the ability to produce power, which can be appreciated by the residents if they are given proper education and information. They will be made to understand that the garbage disposed is a source of employment and business for them and that it will also give them a chance to earn a livelihood. This Bill has brought out the right to give this information in proper language where the residents will understand and give their views under the general public participation guidelines. For purposes of Paragraph one, under Clause 4, they have thought about the old and new media and means of communication. What avenue or contribution is available for residents of a county who work, for example, in Nairobi or different parts of the world and do not get a chance to come to public participation fora yet they have relevant information, ideas and are keen to see matters of development in their home counties being infused? Unless we provide them a new media where they will get this information and share their views, we will be shooting ourselves in the foot. Public participation should not only be limited to the people that are available during a particular meeting. People should be able to send memorandum even if they are not available at a particular meeting. For example, bankers in Nairobi or those who work outside the country and follow keenly the development and issues that happen in their homes should know what is going on in their villages. They should send a memorandum and be assured that it will be taken into consideration. Therefore, having captured it as part of the information and the media that will be given, under responsibilities of the various authorities that have been thought out, one of the things that they shall be required to do is to publish and distribute the documents for consideration as widely as possible. I like that phrase because it ensures that each and every individual that is affected by the decisions that are made gets an opportunity to know the things that are being done. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) which is perhaps the most useful tool that guides and gives the general views of the public on matters devolution in a specific county is not being properly considered. I dare say that very few, if any, of our Senators that are here were given the chance to give their views 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."
}