Garissa assembly lines up three key bills for debate to improve services

The County Assembly of Garissa has lined up three crucial bills for debate which if passed into law will have significant impact to residents.

The bills that have been sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Abubakar Khalif include; the Garissa County Revenue Administration and Management Bill 2023, the Garissa County Environmental restoration and livelihood improvement Bill 2023 and the Garissa County Ward Development fund Bill 2023.

Speaking on Tuesday, Khalif who is also the Galbet MCA urged residents to give the assembly time to deliver on their mandate which include, representation, oversight and legislation.

“The previous assemblies have been blamed for doing little in terms of oversight and legislation but I want to assure members of the public that this will be a different house,” he said in his office.

He added, “I am glad to report to the great people of Garissa that I have sponsored the three bills that are on the floor of the house. I am very optimistic that the assembly will pass them so that they can become laws,” he said.

The Revenue Administration and Management Bill provides a system for collecting, receiving and accounting for taxes, fees and charges in the county.

It confers a general power and responsibility for the administration of county revenue laws on a public official who is to be held accountable for that administration.

To achieve the above purpose, the Bill sets out additional relevant administrative and enforcement provisions relating to revenue legislation.

The enactment of this Bill will occasion additional expenditure of public funds.

The Environmental Restoration and Livelihood Improvement Bill provides for the establishment, management and administration of the Garissa County Environmental Restoration and Livelihood Improvement Agency; to provide for the environmental restoration plans.

The County Ward Development Fund Bill seeks to provide a framework for establishment of Garissa County Ward Development Fund and the establishment of administrative structures to oversee the management of the fund.

It also seeks to provide a framework for the determination of projects that are to be implemented through the fund by the county government and an oversight mechanism to ensure the efficient and proper use of the funds and implementation of the projects.

The Bill further seeks to promote the decentralisation of development within the county by identifying projects that are beneficial to the residents of the respective wards and the county generally and providing a framework for the implementation of such projects.

The assembly got  new faces after 27 MCAs were shown the door in last years general election.

The assembly was made up of 48 MCAs, 30 of whom were elected and 18 nominated.  BY THE STAR