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"content": "measures.” However, when you go to its headquarters and where it will be based, it says that the Authority may establish other offices it considers necessary for the discharge of its function. We are in this Senate to defend devolution and ensure that we are fully devolved. I recommend that the sponsors of this Bill should change that “may” to “shall” and state clearly that: “They shall establish offices in 47 counties.” How will you advise county governments yet you are based here in Nairobi, and you may and may not establish offices? That is an oversight and the drafters must consider changing that to ensure that we fully support devolution. We are fighting corruption in this country. Therefore, when you give an authority the power to borrow and lend money that, to me, is suspect, it can be abused. I recommend to the sponsors of this Bill to do away with that lending. They can borrow money and write grants, but they should not be an institution that has powers to lend. Leave that to the banks or financial institutions, where everyone can go to get money. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of the Board, it is my hope that the sponsors of this Bill will consider that even though the chairperson is appointed by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) from among the members appointed under (f), which is all these other entities, the CS who is given that power should be required to consult 47 disaster management experts representing each county. Finally, the CS should appoint somebody from a disaster prone area. Some areas in this country are blessed in that they do not know anything to do with disaster; they never have to worry. Where I come from, because of the encroachment of the Mau Forest, and as Sen. Omogeni clearly stated, Narok Town floods all the time. I hope that the chairperson and people appointed to serve in that Board will come from those disaster prone areas. This is because it is in their interest to ensure that the decisions that they make impact positively their people and help them. It is sad that in this country, we tend to approach things from a kneejerk reaction, after an event. Right now, many of our roads are destroyed. I remember during the Coalition Government, there was a disaster management team and the President also set up a disaster management body, but they were completely out of touch with the reality. As we consider the disaster that happened in Solai, if this Authority was in place, we would not be getting conflicting statements. The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has done its work and now we, in the Senate, are doing our job. It would have been easier for us to go to this Authority that has a representation in Nakuru County, for them to give us information, so that we know how to support our people. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have an issue that I have noted in all the Bills which talk about establishing an Authority. There is one clause, which I think is from a template, that everybody who is drafting a Bill copies and pastes to their Bill. It says “Two persons, one man and woman nominated by the Council of Governors.” I had raised an issue concerning this clause even in the previous Bill. I do not understand why we are giving so much power to the Council of Governors (CoGs), yet we know that this is a problem that affects –not two individuals – but almost 47 counties. I would, therefore, request the sponsors of this Bill to do away with that clause. 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."
}