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{
    "id": 887014,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/887014/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 238,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ndaragwa, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Jeremiah Kioni",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 49,
        "legal_name": "Jeremiah Ngayu Kioni",
        "slug": "jeremiah-kioni"
    },
    "content": "One of the things that came up when the devolution conference was going on in Kirinyaga County two weeks ago is that the National Assembly is not seen as a stakeholder in the devolution exercise, or in enhancing the effectiveness of devolution in our country. It is important that we start asserting ourselves as Members of the National Assembly. If we do not do so, we will not grow devolution any further from where it is. The amount of money that has been given to the county governments through grants is a lot. As the people who oversee the money at the national level, we need to know how it is used. Is it possible that the roads that we handle under Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) are also handled under the Kshs9 billion, Road Levy Fund? Is it possible that the Kshs310billion which is sent to the counties only caters for recurrent expenditure as opposed to development expenditure? They have enough money for development. They can cover it up by saying that it is the amount of money that they were given. Some of the counties use the Kshs310billion for recurrent expenditure and nothing for development. This calls for us to relook at our oversight role. Are we confident that Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) are able to oversee governors? Is it possible that some of the governors are way up in terms of academic qualifications that our MCAs may feel intimidated when it comes to overseeing them? What role is played by the nominated MCAs? Do they help in the oversight role that is done by the MCAs or are they stifling it? I have looked at the Report. Let me talk about a few of these issues. One, I see that Kshs495million has been set aside for the water tower protection and climate change mitigation. It is meant to benefit the Cherangany Hills, Mt. Elgon and Lake Victoria. I would have been happier to see the Aberdare Ranges covered in this programme because it is also another important water tower that is wasting away. If it is not given attention, we are likely to suffer as a country. Drought Resilience Programme in northern Kenya, including Laikipia County, will be useful. Parts of Nyandarua County, and especially Ndaragwa Constituency, suffer the same kind of climatic condition as parts of northern Kenya. One of the recommendations of the Committee is on the oversight role. There is also the issue of misappropriation and mismanagement of resources. This is real. I know the highest concentration of corruption is at the national Government. However, we need to encourage the agencies concerned to pay more attention to the county level. That was observed by this Committee. The Auditor-General has over time highlighted, without doubt, that there are cases of misapplication and mismanagement of the resources that are taken to the counties. We have the grants now which are taken to the counties. The county assemblies may not even catch wind of what is happening. They may think it is the Kshs310billion that is being used in various places. This needs to be brought out. If there is no civic education that is given to Kenyans, we will lose out. The Members of the National Assembly who have heard what the Chairman has said are a handful. I did not know that we have so much money which goes to Nyandarua County in form of grants. I know my Governor, Mr. Kimemia, will be very happy if I go to sleep when these things are being said. It is because he knows what to do when I am asleep. As I finish, 50 to 80 per cent of the funds given to counties go to waste. This is ridiculous. We need to pay attention when we play our oversight role."
}