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{
    "id": 855033,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/855033/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 202,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "be left for local companies that want to venture into projects and partner with the national Government or county governments. However, any time you are dealing with a project that involves risks of exchange of currencies, then it is important that they are clearly defined. Before a county government submits their list of the approved projects to the Cabinet Secretary for approval, it is important for the public to be involved and to get their views on them. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I hope that it will be important to introduce amendments to these amendments, so that we can take care of the public. I am extremely apprehensive because we are a new devolved Government; we are still a baby. We are still going through different challenges in terms of what is acceptable or what is good for the public. This is why when the Committee deleted the amendments which were proposed in Section 54(b); where before a county government---. A county government comprises of both the executive and the Assembly. Before they approve this list, it must be approved by the latter. Even if the project is of national importance, Section 54(b) (2) states:- “Where the project requires national Government‟s support measures or other project guarantees which cannot be granted at the county level, or exceed the threshold prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary by way of regulation, the county government shall not execute a project agreement without first seeking and obtaining approval from the national Treasury.” Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, once the Committee decides to delete this section or even the one prior to that which seeks to add the voice of the county assemblies, then you are not only doing away with competition but also introducing another element of dictatorship. If there is a CS who decides that this project is only for national projects, we will deal with it from a national perspective; you may not even consider other things like what we were talking about last week on compulsory acquisition of land. If there are interests on land, that community must be fully involved. It does not matter whether it is gold that you will mine, you must involve that community. We keep on talking about raising local revenue; how do we then expect our citizens from different counties to participate in that process of ensuring that the county government raises more revenue, if we choose what to involve and what not to involve them? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, given the long-term and complicity of this project - I had mentioned that before, and the fact that there are certain projects, where a lot of political risks are involved - Government policy is not stagnant. It changes over time. When it comes to these PPPs, these amendments should incorporate an element where they take into consideration that other governments would come and decide to change their policies. Therefore, they should introduce a transitioning clause in the event a Government changes, because this government policy is in terms of agreements and is something which I know from time to time will change. For instance, new governors will come in, they will leave office and others will come in. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is why I insist that a clear legal and regulatory framework must be emphasized on these amendments, because when this Act was in place - I think it was in 2013 - the devolved government structures were new. Therefore, The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}