HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 826827,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/826827/?format=api",
"text_counter": 306,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Prof.) Jacqueline Oduol",
"speaker": {
"id": 856,
"legal_name": "Dennitah Ghati",
"slug": "dennitah-ghati"
},
"content": ", he will see that Hon. (Prof.) Jacqueline Oduol is 001. He knows that. I would like to support this Bill and thank the Senate because it goes a long way to help us citizens and particularly those that we represent fulfil their dreams. If you look at the manner in which the Bill has identified, as was indicated by the Leader of the Majority Party, gaps that were hampering the effective functioning of the county governments, you will see that this is work that really lives to the spirit of enabling the Senate to realise its role, as provided in Article 96 of the Constitution, of protecting the interests of the county governments. As I support this Bill, I would like us to remember that devolution really brought a system by which two arms of government, the Legislature and the Executive, are devolved to the 47 counties. I particularly would like to indicate that the Bill allows us to fill the gaps that exist to live up to the objects of devolution, specifically that of promoting democratic and accountable exercise of power and in a way helping us, as a unique country with one national Government and 47 county governments, to give them a clear understanding of what roles each of the different offices, ranging from the governor to the deputy governor to the speaker and to the county assembly, would perform. As we speak to what has been seen as perhaps excessive power that seems to have been given to the governor, we should keep in mind that devolution did indeed devolve two arms of the government. As we look about the political and administrative functioning, we would want to ensure that this Bill allows clarity of roles and enables those respective office holders to realise their goals. One issue that I would particularly like to commend is with regard to bringing some decorum and order. I remember when I had my induction in the National Assembly, the Speaker and all those who spoke to us reminded us that the Assembly is a House of rules and order. I am happy, looking at the Bill, that there is a way that the county assemblies, not only with regard to the manner in which the MCAs sometimes conduct their business, but in ways in which the speaker, in overseeing and moderating debate and being the referee of activities that take place in the county assembly, seem to have fallen short perhaps because of lack of clear procedures. I speak, in particular, to what happened in Kisii County when in spite of the clear constitutional stipulation of the roles of those in the county assembly—being responsible for legislation, oversight and representation—that we would have a county assembly sitting to legislate to exclude nominated members from performing some functions. So, this is a Bill that is not only timely but also seeks to help us resolve what has been a lacuna and what seems to have turned a House of order and procedure and, by extension, the county government which was itself seen to be a government that would be organised to strengthen institutions, improve service delivery and ensure that recruitment of those who would occupy different offices, be they CEC Members or members of the CPSB or MCAs, would be done in line with how government functions. So, I would commend the Senate and indicate that it would be useful that as the Bill addresses the gaps that exist, they continue to be vigilant and in particular to recognise that there are some capacity gaps that might not immediately be addressed by legislation and perhaps find ways of additional amendments or some other monitoring mechanisms to address them. So, I thank the Senate and support this Bill because it is going to enable the county governments, and in particular the county assemblies, to work towards realising the goals for which devolution was set. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}