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{
    "id": 893964,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/893964/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 356,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": "I must say that in dealing with public participation, there is one element which I had discussed it with my colleague, Sen. M. Kajwang’. We agreed that there has been a lot of wastage particularly as it relates to a Clause 18(1). On the appointment of qualified members who will assist the Senator in oversight of the county, I do not know who will employ them. We have to agree on the methodology of employing these people. Will it be through the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) or will it be through direct identification by the Senator and being employed directly by him? Who ascertains those qualifications? I think this is a grey area but we need to agree on how to deal with that element. Madam Temporary Speaker, Clause 19(1) is on the role of the county assembly. We have been towing with the idea of empowering the county assemblies to do primary oversight work. Most of the oversight work is being done at the Senate level and through individual Senators. It is not humanly possible to be able to oversight each and everything that happens within a county. Therefore, the wards become primary sites for oversight and if our Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and county assemblies are empowered to carry out that oversight, it will be very important. There is one fear that I know of that some may be compromised in their oversight work and ignore their primary responsibility in carrying out this oversight work. Madam Temporary Speaker, I agree with the previous comments in Clause 19(2), that says- “The Clerk of the county assembly may provide such logistical support as is necessary for carrying out of a successful public participation and oversight exercise.” I have discussed this with Sen. Olekina and I told him that I should bring an amendment to that clause. This is because once it is perceived that they are actually funding you, it then loses the meaning and the steam that we want to start with this Bill. I expected that we would have continued fighting for this oversight fund, because it is important, necessary, cost-saving, prioritises events within a county and works as a perfect watchdog for the resources that are being allocated to the county governments. Without that sharp watchdog approach by the Senate and Senators from respective counties in collaboration with the county assemblies, it will be very difficult to stem off the stealing that happens at the county level. One good thing that we can do in 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."
}