13 Nov 2024 in Senate:
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. This morning, we were ready to deal with the question of health. There are many issues and questions relating to the The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only.A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services,Senate.
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13 Nov 2024 in Senate:
Ministry of Health. There are questions on SHA and Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). We also have questions relating to the 1998 American bombing victims, where we had earlier on asked the Ministry of Health to provide specialized medical health care to these particular persons. Before I came to the House, I met a constituent of Makueni County who shouted frantically at the gate that he needs help from me. He said that his child is stuck in hospital and he has been denied access because of SHA and SHIF, yet he had paid. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, these are ...
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12 Nov 2024 in Senate:
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 ...
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12 Nov 2024 in Senate:
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 ...
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12 Nov 2024 in Senate:
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.
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12 Nov 2024 in Senate:
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 ...
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23 Oct 2024 in Senate:
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on this matter of appearances by Cabinet Secretaries, it is true that some of these questions are very old and matters are pending in courts. It is also true that other Cabinet Secretaries have been invited, but they have not explained why they are not here. There must be a way of making sure that this House is respected and that questions are answered. I am one of the Members who had questions for Hon. (Prof.) Kithure Kindiki who is my friend. I asked a question about six months ago in relation with the killings of ...
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23 Oct 2024 in Senate:
Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to contribute on this important Report. Although Makueni County is not named here, and this was 2019 to 2020, I am sure the next report will include Makueni County. Makueni, Kitui and Machakos counties are served by River Athi, among other rivers. However, River Athi goes through Nairobi City County. One of the worst things which has happened to this river is that raw sewage, especially by ‘honeysuckers,’ is released fresh to this river. There has been an effort to clean up River Athi in Nairobi. I have seen ...
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23 Oct 2024 in Senate:
as he leaves, the people who are supposed to clean the river also leave with him. Therefore, it becomes like a Public Relations (PR) exercise, and the water downstream continues to be dirty. In the last two weeks, the sewerage systems in Nairobi City County, have been really raw sewage water to River Athi, and it is green through Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni Counties. Unfortunately, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, many Kenyans use this water. It is used by many water companies in Makueni County. Therefore, we must come up with a system to make sure that there is clean and ...
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23 Oct 2024 in Senate:
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this matter of water must be taken very seriously by this House and the Government. We must have a proper law. We must actuate the delivery of water services to the people. We must make sure that the pending projects are completed. I am wondering why the National Treasury is frustrating the Ministry of Water so much. Why is the National Treasury frustrating the counties so much? Why does the money going to the counties not be given priority, so that governors can prioritize water? The Nolturesh Water and Sanitation Company, which the Senator for Narok ...
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