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{
    "id": 905435,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/905435/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 245,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, JP",
    "speaker_title": "June 4, 2019 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES ____ 23 Hon. (Ms.) Cecily Mbarire",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13169,
        "legal_name": "Jeniffer Shamala",
        "slug": "jeniffer-shamala"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this chance to also contribute to this Bill. It is a Bill that is long overdue. Perhaps, if we had begun by having this Bill at the beginning of this new dispensation of county governments, a lot of the challenges the county governments are going through right now would not have happened. Being a person who is interested in county leadership in the future, I am only too aware of the challenges that counties are going through in terms of getting themselves into contracts that leave them highly indebted and with contracts that leave them with projects that are not complete. Therefore, it is important that we pass this Bill as a House so that we can take care of this particular issue and ensure that there is proper legal advice given to the county governments and the governors before they commit themselves to any form of contracts, however small they may look. Also, it is about time because you are aware that a lot of counties have spent a lot of money hiring legal services of very expensive lawyers. I am very sure that is money that will probably keep the county attorney, the solicitor and the entire office on salaries for a year or more. Having looked at the Auditor-General’s report, there is a lot of money spent by county governments toward legal services which would otherwise have been saved if we had a full- fledged office of the county attorney and the relevant support staff. I have heard many Members saying that we need officers of high standing, with many years of experience. I am persuaded by what Hon. Millie Odhiambo has told us and I trust her when it comes to matters legal, that actually five years is enough time for one to master the necessary legal experience that one needs to be able to hold a special office. Therefore, I am persuaded that we retain the five years in terms of the qualifications of the county attorney and retain the same in the case of the county solicitor so that also we give opportunity for young, upcoming advocates and lawyers to be able to get the necessary experience in running governments and so that we give county governments young and forward-looking staff. We have seen some of the best ideas that have helped this country have come from young people. So, if we move it to 10 years we will be discriminating against young people. A lawyer who has served in the High Court for five years is more than experienced to be able to fit in this important office. With those few remarks, I support and urge this House to pass this Bill so that we can build capacities of the counties to do better jobs in terms of service delivery to their people. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}