TUESDAY, JULY 9TH, 2002 - ConstitutionNet

On electoral system, Local Government Madam Commissioner, sorry for that, I think mayors, council chairmen be elected
directly by councillors as before. People have been proposing that these two important posts in the district be elected directly
by the people. But considering the economy and the expenses, it will be very expensive for them. Minimum qualifications for a
councillor should be “O” level and above, unlike in the past. All nominations of councillors, I think this practice Madam
Commissioner should be done away with after all these people are not productive. They are not productive to our economy,
they are not productive to the area they are supposed to be representing. These people are just nominated to undermine
whoever is there.
On documentation of wards, Madam Commissioner, I think this should be based on an area but not population. You can find
an area a very big area like a division having one councillor. I think it is not economical, it is tiresome to whoever is covering
that area.
On environmental side I am proposing here Madam Commissioner, local authorities and the local community be empowered by
law in protecting forest and also catchment areas, wildlife, soil erosion and plantation of trees. Because these people are always
closer to the people and they know an area where trees are supposed to be planted and where the trees are supposed to be
looked. Because in the past you may find somebody going to Narok taking a letter to come and clear/cut the forests without
the authority or the knowledge of the local authority and the local community. Madam Commissioner nafikiri hapo sheria ili
relax hapo kidogo. For example tukiwa hapa, watu wa hapa walipanda miti hapa zamani katika forest, wakachunga, all over a
sudden mimi nikiwa councillor nikienda Nairobi napewa barua without considering may be I don’t even hail from that particular
place. Naenda nakata miti mpaka huko kwa maji na nyinyi hamkuwa mmesema. Kwa hivyo kuona kwangu ingekuwa
ingekuwa vyema watu wa area hiyo pamoja na area authority wapewe hiyo jukumu ya kulinda area hiyo.
Nikimalizia on international treaties, Madam Commissioner, some of these treaties, were signed before some countries
attained independence e.g. Lake Victoria and River Nile treaty which prohibits the 3 East African and Ethiopia from using the
water in their countries without the authority of Egyptian Government. That one is totally wrong Madam Commissioner and
something should be done. Something should be done and done immediately (interjection)
Com. Asiyo: Tell us what it is.
Slyvester: The former colonial laws should be scrapped and be replaced by the peoples constitution which provides for the
usage of those particular waters by the people in those 4 countries. Unakuta for example Madam Commissioner mtu anaweza
kuenda nchi unasikia anapeana ngano anapanda 3 million hectares na ukija hapa Kenya ukame iko na maji iko. Unakuta
Ethiopia wako na White Nile flowing to Egypt they are not using because of those colonial laws. Kwa hivyo vitu kama hizo
zingekuwa scrapped kabisa na iandikwe vile watu wanataka wenyewe. Nafikiri ni haya tu nasema asante.
Com. Asiyo: Tuko na swali hapo kidogo mzee, ngojea uulizwe.
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