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"content": "should not turn our counties into employment bureaus. They must know that the counties were meant to bring service delivery in the spirit of Article 174 of our Constitution in bringing development across our counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if we look at the reports that the Committee has done and even the Auditor-General’s report, most of these issues that have been raised are on Recurrent Expenditure, some of which are majorly on employment, salaries and personal emoluments apart from travelling expenses. I think this is what has contributed to the recurrent expenditure. Thirdly, I thank the ‘Super Senator’ Sen. Sakaja, for that Statement on Pumwani Maternity Hospital. What we are seeing there is an example of what is happening across the 47 counties. It is very unfortunate that our health facilities---. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you because you have Sen. (Dr.) Mbito, the Chairperson Committee on Health, who is here. The Committee should be seized of the matter with the seriousness it deserves. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I hope that as we go to Eldoret for the special sittings of the Senate, the Committee on Health should take their time off the Committee meetings and visit our health facilities, especially in the North Rift, so as to learn the reality of what is happening. I agree with Senator Wetangula, who has said that our health facilities are death traps. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, even as we raise hullabaloo about the mismanagement of Pumwani Maternity Hospital, the biggest question is: I saw that Kshs9.4 billion was allocated for leasing medical equipment, which is so sad. I do not know why the Senate, through the Committee on Health, has not taken the lead, together with the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC) led by our able Chair, Sen. Moses Kajwang,’ on this matter. They should tell us who we are leasing from and why the amount is going up each year. If they cannot handle those issues, we should then invite Noordin Haji to investigate the matter, because counties continue losing money through leasing of medical equipment, yet the number of people who are dying in our health facilities has quadrupled. I know that there is the handshake, but it should not kill the spirit of Kenyans looking for justice. This is because as we talk now, taxpayers are on their own. With or without the handshake in place, I can tell you that if we do not take the lead on this matter, we will leave our counties worse than they were before. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of public debts, I agree that the Senate should be given a role. I have heard Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, Sen. Wetangula and many other Senators say that counties are committed to public debt, yet we do not have a role as the Senate. We must sit with the leadership of the House and agree that the Senate must take a pivotal role in the commitment of public debt. I know that one of my Members of Parliament (MPs), Hon. Alex Kosgei of Emgwen Constituency in Nandi, has proposed a public debt ceiling Kshs6 trillion so that we cannot be auctioned like Zambia, Sri Lanka or anywhere else. It will be very sad for this country if we cannot manage our public debt. I hope the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee will have the opportunity--- 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."
}