{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=147677","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=147675","results":[{"id":1494952,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494952/?format=json","text_counter":78,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Chimera","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Gavana yeyote mbadhirifu na anayeshindwa kufanya kazi yake hafai kutumia ukosefu wa fedha kama sababu ya kutokuwa na huduma katika kaunti yake."},{"id":1494953,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494953/?format=json","text_counter":79,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair]"},{"id":1494954,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494954/?format=json","text_counter":80,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]"},{"id":1494955,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494955/?format=json","text_counter":81,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Chimera","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Bw. Naibu Spika, ukiangalia kaunti yangu ya Kwale, kumekuwa na kelele na hatihati kuhusu hali ya utendakazi hususan katika Idara ya Afya. Mimi kama Mwanakamati wa Kamati ya Afya, nilikuwa na mkutano na MCAs wa Kamati ya Afya ya Bunge la Kaunti ya Kwale. Walinieleza kuwa tatizo kubwa ambalo linawasibu ni kwamba hawana hata fedha za kufanya kikao na waziri wao. Hawawezi kufanya mkutano na kutathmini hali ya afya katika kaunti hiyo. Hiyo ndio taswira katika kaunti nyingi. Si vizuri kiongozi kukosa sauti kwa sababu hana fedha. Nakuunga mkono. Kama kuna Seneta ambaye anafahamu kazi yake basi ni wewe kupitia Mswada huu. Nina imani kwamba Bunge hili limeona umuhimu wa kuhakikisha kwamba tunaunga mkono Mswada huu. Naomba sote tuunge mkono na kuupitisha haraka iwezekanavyo ili uwe sheria. Hiyo itawawezesha MCAs kufanya kazi yao pasipo kunyenyekea kwa magavana. Pesa zinapotolewa na Wizara ya Fedha ziende moja kwa moja kwa Makatibu wa Kaunti. Bw. Naibu Spika, nampongeza Sen. Osotsi na pia Kiongozi wa Wengi kwa kauli yao. Kuna maafisa ambao wamezoea kuleta nyokonyoko kwamba fedha haziwezi kuwafikia bila kuweka asimilia yao. Nafikiri hiyo si sawa kisheria. Ipo haja ya Sen. Osotsi kuleta marekebisho ili kuhakikisha kwamba fedha zikitoka katika Wiraza ya Fedha zinakwenda moja kwa moja kwa mabunge ya kaunti bila vikwazo vyovyote ili tuwape fursa MCAs kufanya kazi yao. Bw. Naibu Spika, kwa hayo mengi au machache, naunga mkono Mswada huu. Asante."},{"id":1494956,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494956/?format=json","text_counter":82,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"The Deputy Speake","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"r (Sen. Kathuri): Asante sana. The next one is Sen. Maanzo Daniel, the Senator for Makueni County."},{"id":1494957,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494957/?format=json","text_counter":83,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Maanzo","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13589,"legal_name":"Maanzo Daniel Kitonga","slug":"maanzo-daniel-kitonga"},"content":"Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this important Bill. First of all, I thank you for having been thoughtful. For those who may not know, I have been with you in this Parliament for 12 years. Therefore, I am very much aware that you are one person who has been a solution finder for many people of Kenya. In the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, and many other times, you have solved problems related to the people of Kenya. I congratulate and thank you for this thoughtful solution on devolution. This law is important. Devolution in this country has been stuck for the past 12 years because of very simple reasons. In your own introduction, you have said “independence and separation of power”, so that there is independence of the county assemblies. In the country, for the last 12 years, many county assemblies have been tied to the governor in many ways. In order for them to receive development in their respective The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."},{"id":1494958,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494958/?format=json","text_counter":84,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Maanzo","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13589,"legal_name":"Maanzo Daniel Kitonga","slug":"maanzo-daniel-kitonga"},"content":"wards, they had to heavily rely on the governors and be submissive to them, yet, they are supposed to impeach the governor where there are reasons to and to make sure that oversight is applicable and strict. That would not have happened without the independence of the assemblies. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for many counties, before the assembly makes any move, they have to look for the governor or the systems of the governor to get their monies released and there has been delays. However, with this law, the county assemblies will be independent, monitor their own budget, make their own plans and oversight the governors very well. Many of the Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) in the country have been reduced to beggars. They are with the people on the ground. Most of them spend their nights at the village. Very early in the morning, every matter that happened during the night has to be taken to the MCA who then has to contact the Senator. It goes on like that and by the time they get to the Member of Parliament (MP) or the governor, the first point of contact of the Kenyan people is the MCA. Senators have been very supportive to MCAs so far. I personally have been supportive to the MCAs of Makueni. Right now, I am very supportive to this law, because I know it will free the MCAs from bondage. It will make the MCAs more effective, strengthened, powerful and able to deliver services to the people. Hence, this is a law which is like revolution. It is going to change devolution and make it better. I believe everybody in this House will support this law. When it goes to the National Assembly as we have many contacts there and we are familiar with how the place works, then this is a law that we want to go express so that, as soon as possible, it is put into practise and assemblies are empowered. The clerk of the county assembly is a very crucial person in this law. Most clerks are very well trained, qualified and experienced. They are the people who will make sure that this money is well spent. They are going to be the accounting officers of this money, answerable to this Senate. Every other time we call the county assemblies here, there are so many missing gaps when we want them to account. Therefore, with this law, the delays will no longer be there and they will be directly responsible to the people and the National Treasury. Consequently, there will be every need to make sure that this happens. The good news about this law is that, the County Public Finance Law, which is an Amendment Bill of the main Act, that is the Public Finance Management Act, will now have a branch which deals with the counties directly. That amendment is very crucial, because when it comes to the national Government, then the Act applies. When it comes to the counties, then the new branch of laws applies. Everybody will be held to account and all the monies for the purposes of the movement and the operations of the county assemblies will be made very important. I want to agree with the Sen. Osotsi and I will support his amendment, so that the Act could flow. If you look at the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No.39 of 2023) Clause109B(c), it states that- “administrative expenses as may be incurred by the Fund under this Act or under any other purpose provided in the Constitution or any other written law.” The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."},{"id":1494959,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494959/?format=json","text_counter":85,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Maanzo","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13589,"legal_name":"Maanzo Daniel Kitonga","slug":"maanzo-daniel-kitonga"},"content":"Meaning, this Act is not independent of other laws. It is subject to the Constitution, statutes and other Acts of Parliament, which will work together with this to make it stronger. Thus, it is not in conflict of any other written law. It is in consonance with it and at times, that becomes a point of litigation when there are parallel laws applying on one thing. Nonetheless, this is so specific, carefully thought and solving a problem which has been bedevilling the counties for some time."},{"id":1494960,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494960/?format=json","text_counter":86,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Maanzo","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13589,"legal_name":"Maanzo Daniel Kitonga","slug":"maanzo-daniel-kitonga"},"content":"If you generally look at all those provisions and even Section 136 of the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No.39 of 2023), which is now being amended by deleting Section 2 and substituting thereof with the conclusion of this Act, if at the end of the financial year, a county government entity is holding appropriated money that was withdrawn from the county exchequer account or at the County Assembly Fund Account but has not been spent, it shall continue to be used. Again, it means that money will not be returned. Let me not read the whole of it. The monies will not be returned to the National Treasury, as has been the case during the closure of the financial year. It means, from the closure of financial year, the activities of the county assembly will run from June, July, August up to about September when the new financial year begins. Thus, the activities of the county assembly and the county government will not stall. The oversight function will not go unchecked for some days. I hope the county assemblies, county governments and the national Government will welcome this important law so that we can serve this country better. The Senate, which is the senior House, continues to make sure that devolution works and the common Kenyan or mwananchi, is served at the grassroots. The whole idea of devolution is taking development to the grassroots level and making sure that agriculture, health, water and land are fully devolved and we are able to serve the people of Kenya. I support."},{"id":1494961,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494961/?format=json","text_counter":87,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Kathuri","speaker_title":"The Deputy Speaker","speaker":{"id":13590,"legal_name":"Murungi Kathuri","slug":"murungi-kathuri"},"content":" Next is Sen. Kisang."}]}