Governor James Ongwae has assented into law four crucial bills passed by the Kisii County Assembly.
Governor Ongwae assented to the Kisii County NHIF Support bill, 2015, the Kisii County Science and Technology Park Bill, 2015, the Kisii County Abattoirs Bill, 2015 and the Kisii County Animal Welfare Bill, 2015.
The brief ceremony was witnessed by house speaker Hon. Kerosi Ondieki, chief Whip Henry Moracha, County Secretary Johnstone Ndege and members of the implementation committee.
The NHIF Support Bill, 2015 provides a framework for the utilization of the KShs.40million Social Protection Fund thus help the vulnerable members of the society in the County access quality healthcare. The County Government intends to pay NHIF subscription fees for about 800 people in each of the 45 wards.
It proposes the establishment of a Sub County Social Protection Committee comprising five persons and its chairperson will be appointed by the CEC in charge of Culture and Social services. The committee shall identify the vulnerable persons from each Sub County to benefit from the subsidy.
“I thank the County Assembly for passing these bills especially the NHIF Support bill, 2015 which will allow us implement our social protection project. The Animal Welfare Bill, 2015 will provide a framework for dealing with the menace of stray animals in Kisii Town and other urban areas,” said Ongwae.
The Animal Welfare bill, 2015 provides that a person who owns an animal shall ensure it has adequate supply of food and water, medical attention, reasonable protection from injurious heat or cold, confine the animal into an enclosure with adequate space, sanitary conditions and adequate ventilation as well as room for exercise.
The abattoirs bill provides for slaughter houses of animals for human consumption and related purposes. It provides for registration of abattoirs and licensing of meat export processing establishments.
The science park bill provides for establishment of a County Corporation which creates a platform for convergence of innovations, scientific and technological breakthroughs and products for social and economic development of Kisii County, her partners and the larger public.
