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"id": 980236,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/980236/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
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"speaker": {
"id": 171,
"legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
"slug": "george-khaniri"
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 47 (1), to make a Statement on a matter of both national and countywide concern, namely the delayed release of funds to counties leading to industrial action by county workers, in particular, nurses in Vihiga County. One of the fundamental functions of the Senate, according to Article 96(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, is to represent counties and serve to protect the interests of the counties and their governments. Thus, the Senate participates in the legislation of the Division of Revenue Act and the County Allocation of Revenue Act, which ensures that counties are allocated sufficient funds to perform their functions, as provided in Part II of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, 2010. It is in the public domain that counties have had challenges in terms of settling pending bills spanning from as far back as the 2013/2014 Financial Year (FY). This matter, in itself, has caused great suffering to Kenyans, specifically those that have done business with counties. The national Government directed counties to ensure that they settle pending bills as a fast charge in the first and second quarters of the current financial year, failure to which the concerned counties would be denied funding from the national Government. But since this has not happened in most counties, the counties are currently facing a cash crunch. First and foremost, it is both constitutionally and morally wrong for the national Treasury to delay or deny counties their fair share of revenue for whatsoever reason. Daily, I receive numerous calls from Vihiga County staff asking me to assist them to have their salaries paid. This is absurd, to say the least! According to Section 4(1) the Employment Act and the individual employment contracts, salary for work done should be automatic and paid promptly. As I stand here today, the last payment to staff from my county was in December, 2019. This is evil and against the spirit of devolution. Indeed, it would seem like devolution has turned to be a curse for county staff. Why should the Government decide to punish a whole workforce and their families for mistakes of the county executive? Secondly, the County Government of Vihiga is currently in the middle of the worst labour relations circus in the country, specifically in the Department of Health. The department and the County Assembly Service Board engaged in a recruitment exercise for health workers in 2019. It was a shambolic exercise that was riddled with allegations of over-employment beyond the advertised positions, issuance of employment letters to people who neither applied for nor participated in interviews, as well as sale of appointment letters. The effect of this exercise meant that newly recruited staff in the health department across the county worked for almost eight months without pay. The newly appointed County Assembly Public Service Board cancelled and reinstated the recruited staff in a span of one week. To date, the concerned staff are in the dark concerning their status of employment, and the matter is active in court. Surely, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the recruited individuals have lives, bills, families and responsibilities. Throughout the county, there are reports of the concerned 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."
}