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{
"id": 1585482,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1585482/?format=api",
"text_counter": 982,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Farah Maalim",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Order, Hon. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, Member for Emurua Dikirr Constituency. Do not distract the good Member on the Floor."
},
{
"id": 1585483,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1585483/?format=api",
"text_counter": 983,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kibwezi West, MCCP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mwengi Mutuse",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Governors have been treating the funds allocated to their counties as if they were intended for personal use or groceries. County assemblies have not been receiving their due share, even after their budgets and finances have been approved. Hon. Temporary Speaker, if you send a watchdog that is not well-fed to watch over the funds at the counties, the likely outcome is that it would be compromised. Therefore, corruption is partly to blame for the lack of financial independence of the county assemblies, which we are providing with funds this afternoon. I am also aware that in many instances, the wrangles that happen in the counties between speakers and governors, or county assemblies and governors, often revolve around the management of finances. County assemblies, every time they attempt to exercise their oversight mandate by inviting members of the executive for accountability purposes, are met The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1585484,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1585484/?format=api",
"text_counter": 984,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kibwezi West, MCCP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mwengi Mutuse",
"speaker": null,
"content": "with retaliation. The usual reaction by the executive is to withhold funding meant for the county assemblies. Therefore, this afternoon, it behoves every Kenyan to support the legislative proposal before us so that county assemblies may attain financial independence. This financial independence will, in turn, lead to increased checks and balances and enhanced oversight. Some argue that county assemblies should not be granted financial independence because they are incapable of managing their finances effectively. I completely disagree with that line of reasoning. That school of thought seeks to micromanage institutions and defeat the spirit of devolution. The framers of our Constitution, in their wisdom, envisioned a governance structure that includes two distinct arms of government at the county level: the executive and the legislature. Just as it is at the national level, it is important that the county assembly, being the second arm of government at the county level, be granted financial autonomy. For that reason, I wish to thank the Senate. I also commend our own Committee, led by Hon. Kimani Kuria, and here in this House, ably represented by Amb. Lang’at and seconded by my sister from Nyamira. I urge that we process this Bill with speed so that as we enter the new financial year, beginning in September, and as the President assents to the Appropriation Bill, funds disbursed to counties will include direct allocations to county assemblies. Going forward, funds for county assemblies should no longer pass through the county executive. In the new financial year, county assemblies ought to receive their allocations directly from the National Treasury. The necessary checks and balances, as provided by the Controller of Budget and the Office of the Auditor-General, will apply to ensure accountability at that level. Members of County Assemblies must also note that to whom much is given, much is expected. As I conclude, I wish to emphasise that county assemblies have fought for this financial autonomy for over 12 years since the advent of devolution in 2013. Today, the mood in this House suggests that this autonomy shall be granted. As the responsibility is handed over to them, they must demonstrate their ability to manage these funds responsibly. The fight for autonomy should never be perceived as a mere attempt to access public funds for personal gain. It must be seen as a noble pursuit aimed at promoting good governance, enhancing devolution, and upholding the independence of county assemblies. The goal is to ensure that taxpayers’ money allocated to counties yields greater benefits for citizens at the grassroots level. For those reasons, I support."
},
{
"id": 1585485,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1585485/?format=api",
"text_counter": 985,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Farah Maalim",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. Nyakundi."
},
{
"id": 1585486,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1585486/?format=api",
"text_counter": 986,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitutu Chache North, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Japheth Nyakundi",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for granting me this opportunity to contribute to the Bill. This is one of the most progressive Bills that the 13th Parliament shall be remembered for. As Members are aware, county assemblies have, for the past 12 years, fought relentlessly for their financial autonomy. During that period, many county assemblies have not exercised effective oversight over governors, as mandated by law. This failure has often been due to the stranglehold that governors have over assembly finances. In many instances, governors have treated funds allocated to county assemblies as though they were personal funds. As a result, Members of County Assemblies have been compelled to follow governors, either to access development funds for their wards or other forms of facilitation. Most MCAs have been reduced to mere subjects of their respective governors. If there is one Bill that brings me great satisfaction to debate today, and I hope that this House shall pass it as fast as possible, it is this one. Many people have been complaining that most counties are not doing their roads. If you go to any constituency right now, every Member of Parliament is constantly being asked to make roads because most governors are not doing their work. Unfortunately, the MCAs are unable to be accountable because they are afraid that the governor will not develop their areas. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1585487,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1585487/?format=api",
"text_counter": 987,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitutu Chache North, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Japheth Nyakundi",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Let me give you an example: Nyamira County has two speakers and two clerks. For the last nine months, they have been unable to move forward because one speaker is in the county assembly while the other one is operating from a nearby hotel. I thank the Senate and Hon. Kimani Kuria for bringing this Bill. This Bill will change what we see in our county assemblies. I am impressed because this Bill states that money meant for the county assemblies must be disbursed by the 15th of every month. And in case they do not spend the funds, they will remain there. The Controller of Budget will also oversee how the county assemblies use these resources. Today, we passed the Mediated Version of the Division of Revenue Bill, and almost Ksh415 billion is going to the county governments. I can now clearly see that this money will be spent more prudently than before. We want to tell the county governments to ensure that the resources the National Assembly has bestowed upon them are used appropriately. They should ensure that the roads under the county government are made passable. They should ensure that Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 hospitals are equipped with the necessary medicine and facilities so that our people at home can receive the medical attention they need. Right now, many people want water in their homes. Water is a devolved function, but if you go to my constituency, you will not even see one borehole or a single last-mile water connection in any part in the two-and-a- half years I have been a Member of Parliament. Therefore, if there is one Bill that made me a happy man today, then it is this one. By the time I complete my five-year term, I will return home and say that this House passed a Bill that granted county assemblies the autonomy to run freely and smoothly. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity."
},
{
"id": 1585488,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1585488/?format=api",
"text_counter": 988,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Farah Maalim",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. (Dr) Makali."
},
{
"id": 1585489,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1585489/?format=api",
"text_counter": 989,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you so much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity. I join my colleagues in appreciating this Bill. Being a Senate Bill, it is of much interest to me. Our Constitution clearly states that the Senate exists to serve the interests of the counties. Even though we are discussing this Bill today, I believe it is long overdue. It should have been one of the Bills that the Senate processed as early as 2014. Why am I saying that? If you take the example of this House and the Executive, the reason we can carry out our programmes and activities with some success is that we control our resources as a Parliament. When you talk about financial autonomy for counties, particularly for county assemblies, you will realise that this debate and that of the Ward Development Fund has been with us for a long time. I now see a situation where we are likely to conclude one of these debates once this Bill passes. We will then remain with the law on the Ward Development Fund. I want to make a few observations. The truth is that if you are not financially independent, you are unlikely to be independent in terms of decision-making. If you are relying on the county executive to finance your activities and programmes, then you are not likely to have the freedom to stand your ground and say this is wrong. The fact that we are now seeing an attempt for the county assemblies to become financially independent is something that the House should support. It is good that we are talking about a county assembly account where the county assembly's money will be sent after we pass the budget. I see this playing out similarly to what happens in this House. The county assemblies will present their budgets to the Budget and Appropriation Committee in the county assembly, just as Parliament does to its Budget and Appropriation Committee. Once their budget is approved, those resources should be sent to their account to be utilised. Another interesting issue we have proposed is that the Controller of the Budget, just as she does with other funds drawn from the Consolidated Fund, be responsible for budget monitoring to ensure that resources are used for relevant activities and programmes. Over time, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1585490,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1585490/?format=api",
"text_counter": 990,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
"speaker": null,
"content": "the Controller of Budget has complained that, at times, she approves money for certain activities only to find that it is being utilised for different purposes. The idea of involving the Controller of the Budget is to ensure that whatever money she approves is used for the intended purpose. This way, county assemblies will do their work as outlined in the Constitution. When the Chairman was moving this Bill, there was something he said, and I am not sure if it was a slip of the tongue or if that is what the Bill proposes. He said “that the money paid to the county assembly account, once the year ends, is rolled over”, just like we do with the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF). That is an area we need to get right. Even in this Parliament, we do not get our budgets rolled over to the next financial year. Come 30th June, what has not been spent is expected to disappear from the box. That is aligned with doing zero-based budgeting. Once we adopt rolling over of budgets, we will kill the spirit of zero-based budgeting. That is an area that we need to think about when this Bill moves to Third Reading. We must ensure the money is spent annually. Our budgeting process is annual, with the other two years for purposes of budgeting. It should be that way. If the counties are unable to spend their money by 30th June of every year, they justify it in the next financial year, as all government institutions do. This will help avoid confusion regarding our financial management issue. There is not much to say about this. This is a very exciting moment. I wish it came 10 years ago. Today, our county assemblies would be independent. The corruption problem we are seeing with the county executive is largely because our county assemblies lack the authority to effectively say no to the county executive. With financial autonomy, they will be able to say no and conduct their activities independently. Since their roles are similar to ours —legislation, representation, and oversight —with the introduction of financial autonomy, they will carry out their roles effectively. I wish them all the best as they start the new journey of financial independence. Thank you so much, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
},
{
"id": 1585491,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1585491/?format=api",
"text_counter": 991,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Farah Maalim",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Member of Parliament for Luanda, Hon. Maungu."
}
]
}