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{
    "id": 917451,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/917451/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 320,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Farhiya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13179,
        "legal_name": "Farhiya Ali Haji",
        "slug": "farhiya-ali-haji"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for allowing me to support this Bill. I also wish to thank Sen. Seneta for bringing this timely Bill. As you are aware, as per Section 96 of the Constitution, the role of the Senate is to protect counties. Therefore, the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Amendment) Bill speaks to that. Sen. Seneta is performing her role in terms of ensuring that counties are well represented. Madam Temporary Speaker, Clause 4 of the Bill has a provision which allows county governments to enter into partnership with KEMSA for appropriate supply of drugs and medical supplies. I have a problem with Clause 5 of the Bill in terms of the Board. This is because we have provided two slots for counties out of nine slots, which is few for them. For example, there are three Principal Secretaries (PSs), who are sitting on this board. I have a problem with that because all these people represent the national Government. Only two should be enough; for example, one of them should be for finance to deal with the financing of the functions of the board. Why do we need another PS for Devolution? In my view, we do not need that. Let us replace another position for county governments. Madam Temporary Speaker, in Clause 5(4) on the composition of the Board, we must have a procurement specialist, a person from the KMPDU, and another person who has the knowledge of commerce and finance. We should limit the number of people so that they are members of a professional body that cover those laws. For example, in procurement and supply, there is the Kenya Institute of Supply Management (KISM). We also have the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and for finance, there is the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Kenya (ICPAK). I insist that members to this Board must belong to a professional body, because the professional bodies regulate their own membership. Therefore, if a member is not able to perform like they ought to, they are disciplined by their professional body. Therefore, we should not have people who are specialists and are not members of any professional body. This is because in case of an issue, we have no mechanism of following up. I agree with Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri that when procurement is done in bulk, there is economy of scale. What often happens is that most Government-run entities are much more expensive, despite the fact that if they procure in bulk, they should benefit from economies of scale. However, due to corruption, the benefits of the economy of scale are never harvested by the people of this country. At times, value for money is not taken into consideration. Madam Temporary Speaker, the Board is composed of nine members, but I believe that four members should come from counties. This is because health is 100 per cent devolved, and all the medical supplies that are supplied by KEMSA are for counties."
}