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{
    "id": 806748,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/806748/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 488,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I like the proposed timing on this Motion for us to be in the counties. We will be in the first county, Uasin Gishu County, from 24th to 28th September, 2018. That will be ample time to listen to the issues of the counties and for them to appreciate that we are sincere in our leadership and as such, they will have faith in us. I want to suggest that as we plan to conduct our sittings in the counties, the contents of the Order Paper should address some of the core issues that affect the specific counties we will be visiting. Constituents will be happy if we do this. For example, we are planning to go to Uasin Gishu, if we have issues of maize as part of the Orders of the day, then during debate, constituents will appreciate that we are keen and we have their interests at heart. That is what this Senate does. Going to the counties will help us in a big way in our oversight role. We will listen to the problems people have and ask questions of accountability. We have had times when people travel from the counties to this House to listen to our proceedings and engage with us. It is expensive to travel to Nairobi, and therefore, the people who visit us are small groups. However, when we go to the counties, many Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) will come to listen to our debates and borrow a leaf from us and we will also learn from them. Going to the counties will be a good follow-up of the resolutions of the Legislative Summit we had in Mombasa. In that Summit, we looked at how we can engage with the county assemblies to ensure that devolution becomes a reality. So, when we go there, we will be stressing on what we agreed in Mombasa. Going to Mombasa for the Legislative Summit was not a waste of resources because of what is about to happen. We now want to meet the people, engage with them, feel them and understand them. We want to ensure that we deliver to the people of this Republic. Madam Temporary Speaker, people need to come and question us on pertinent issues. There is need to sensitise the people of that particular county so that they are aware that the Senate will have its sittings there. County assembly members should also be made aware that the Senate will sit in their chamber. This will enable them to organise themselves with the burning questions that they would like us to address. Madam Temporary Speaker, we have a commitment to serve the people of this Republic. We want to engage with people in the counties so that they know that we are determined to serve them. When we are in the North Rift, the Senate can address issues affecting other neighbouring counties such as Bungoma and Kakamega. We can do the same for the whole country. I believe when we go to the counties, our people will expect a lot from us. We have a mandate to deliver to the people of this nation and show them that we are here because of them. If it were not for them, we would not be here. They have the sovereign power in this Republic and we want to serve them diligently. It will not be a waste of resources for us to rotationally sit in all the counties. This is the only way counties will know that we are serious about serving them. They will be happy that we are engaging with them directly at the grassroots level. In some counties, maybe people have never had the opportunity to come to the Senate. When the Senate goes to the counties, it will be a boon for us in leadership. People will see us as going to them as their servants and that we want to lead them. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}