Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 855085,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/855085/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 254,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Zani",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13119,
        "legal_name": "Agnes Zani",
        "slug": "agnes-zani"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, in the Senate we concentrate on counties to ensure that their abilities can be unlocked 100 per cent for them to be productive. Counties are allocated money from the exchequer, but that money is not enough. There is a lot that needs to be done in these counties in terms of developing the infrastructure and ensuring that a county unlocks its resources so that its members benefit. Many county governments have been trying to do that to a large extent; only that the process has been left more or less strictly to the governors at that level. Some governors have been well meaning and they have ensured that they get into PPPs and, from that process, unlock the potential of their counties. However, that has sometimes caused problems; mainly at an individual level. This Bill has addressed that, where it suggests that county assemblies need to be involved, especially in the approvals. Therefore, a county government contracting authority shall seek and obtain the approval of the county assembly. That is important. There is also a provision that the county government shall not execute a project agreement without first seeking and obtaining approval from the National Treasury. This is so that there is synergy and linking in terms of the resources that are available. In Kenya, PPPs are critical in reducing the funding gap for infrastructure, which is now estimated at about US$50 million over the next year. It is, therefore, important for people to engage in PPPs, because they also help in reducing government borrowing and associated risks since the partner brings in money and is part of the process of executing the project. They also become part and parcel of executing that process to ensure that the money is used well. PPPs also provides a new source of investment capital right from the source. It also drives the creation of local funding and enable the market to create and use it funding adequately. Madam Temporary Speaker, another very important reason why it is critical to have PPPs is because the private partners do not step out. Therefore, their role is not only in funding, but also coming in with their expertise. That way, they utilize the efficiency of private sector in running the public sectors so as to catapult the processes within the counties. Madam Temporary Speaker, all this is important because in the long run, it helps to create job opportunities. For Instance, if it is an infrastructural or health project, Kenyans will be part and parcel of it. More jobs will be created for them. Many counties have been facing a problem where the PPP does not reap fruits because a debt is incurred, and there is no recourse to how that should be utilized or how the gap can be filled. This, in turn, creates a situation where the county governments find themselves running bills for projects which they started without proper feasibility studies on how they were going 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."
}