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{
"id": 1555172,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555172/?format=api",
"text_counter": 32,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also rise in support of the Statement. Indeed, there is no single country that has ever progressed without taking the basic infrastructure; the connectivity that connects a community and country. We know the importance of regional integration. Most of the business partners lie across borders. It is important to ensure that we not only put the necessary resources, but also improve the infrastructure that will ensure the flow of human goods and facilitate the mobility of labor as envisaged in our East African Community (EAC) undertaking. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it cannot be overemphasized, the importance of us leaders not only fighting over the resources but ensuring that services are delivered timely to the people and by using the right channels. As has been said by my colleague Sen. Osotsi, indeed, devolution came and changed many counties. It would achieve even more wonders if we allocated more resources to them. We started this Senate on a high note of unbundling all the devolved functions and ensuring that budgets follow them. That has remained elusive. The political goodwill that was brought on the table is dwindling by the minute. It is only two years to election. We will all place ourselves before the electorate and say what we have been able to do. Therefore, we should speak with the voice of reason, whether we sit in the National Assembly, in the Senate, or in the governor's office. At the Governor’s office people have been known to lack accountability and use the resources that have been allocated to not only do what they think will advance their political goals, but sometimes with skewed priorities. Therefore, as the leadership of this country, it is important that we call them out and tell them that the governors must get what they are entitled to get, but then they should allocate resources depending on the priorities as envisaged by our 2010 Constitution. As I sit down, indeed, it is a very sad affair that we see the control of the National Assembly on almost everything that gets to pass in this House, be it the allocation of the budget or the oversight role. With too much on their hands, they are left to only mismanage. We must tell ourselves the truth. It is high time that we changed the way we are doing things. It is high time that we confronted the reality that development in any part of this country is development everywhere. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as I sit down, I listened to the President explain about the construction of roads in the northern part of the country. Indeed, it is very sad that 62 years after Independence, 80 per cent of the landmass of this country remains The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1555173,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555173/?format=api",
"text_counter": 33,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "unconnected to the national grid and to the basic infrastructure. It is not a privilege but a right for every Kenyan. As I address this issue here, I think that it is high time that we get our priorities right and know that the marginalized 80 per cent of the landmass must also contribute to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). I submit."
},
{
"id": 1555174,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555174/?format=api",
"text_counter": 34,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I do not know why Sen. Sifuna is so happy that I have the microphone. I also want to make comments on the Statement by Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda on the status of the Kisumu-Busia Road infrastructure. I hasten to say that lately Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda has been very active on matters of infrastructure and the people of Kisumu County should take note. Having said that, this is a matter that resonates with many of us in the Senate. It shall be remembered that I have raised this matter on the issue of the Kibwezi-Mutomo- Kitui Road many times. That road does not just serve the people of the Mt. Kenya South region. It also serves the region from Mombasa all the way to Isiolo, and connects Kenya with Addis Ababa. It is actually an international transport corridor. I would urge the committee as they continue to look into these issues, to ensure that that road is completed because the section of road remaining is less than 20 kilometers to connect it to the Mwingi-Garissa Road and then, of course, the payment part. Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me once again to add onto that Statement and say that this matter of the RMLF is one that this House needs to make a statement on and ensure that we call out the right people. I agree with Sen. Osotsi, Sen. Wamatinga and the leader of ODM, Hon. Raila Odinga, that one of the greatest enemies of devolution in this country is Members of the National Assembly. These people behave as though Article 93 of the Constitution was created just for them; that the Senate and nobody else exists apart from the National Assembly. I stand today on the Floor of this Senate to say that even as they consider the statement by Raila Odinga on their role in killing devolution, they should know that Hon. Raila Odinga spoke for Kenyans; he did not even speak for himself. The other category of leaders that we need to call out as a Senate - and I want my colleagues to listen to me very carefully - is the Council of Governors (CoG). Do you know that I have information that governors are now contemplating withdrawing the case in court on the Kshs10 billion that is supposed to go to counties for roads maintenance, so that in exchange they can be given some little peanuts? This House is the one supposed to negotiate monies going to counties. It is not the business of governors to negotiate what money goes to the counties. That is not their business. They should wait for the Senate to negotiate what goes to the counties then they implement what has been budgeted for them to implement. I ask my colleagues to rise up, speak to their individual governors and tell them that we are watching. It can never happen that governors will be intimidated or accept to withdraw the case in court before that matter is determined. As a Senate, we believe that the Kshs10 billion is money that The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1555175,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555175/?format=api",
"text_counter": 35,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "should rightfully go to counties for maintenance of roads. Any other conversation outside that is only a conversation that can be held by governors who are self-interested. Lastly, there is this money that has been set aside by the National Government from the same RMLF; the Kshs7 tax that has been given to the Ministry of Roads to pay pending bills and complete roads that have not been completed; that is Kshs175 billion. That is the position of the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing and the chairman is here. The position is very clear, that a percentage of that amount of money must go to counties. We should not have a situation where people from Kitui, Kabati or Matinyani, who fuel their vehicles,and Kshs7 is taken from them. That money must go to Nairobi for a decision to be made on how it will be used and yet we are paying that tax at source. A portion of that money must go to counties to ensure that we have equitable distribution of development and resources in this country. With those remarks, I support."
},
{
"id": 1555176,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555176/?format=api",
"text_counter": 36,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Okenyuri",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I wish to comment on the Statement by Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda on upgrading Kisumu National Polytechnic to university status. While I appreciate his thoughts on the same, I would wish that this Statement brings our focus back to whether the current national polytechnics have actually met the intended purpose of the technical training institutions we have had in this country. The essence of technical training institutions is to equip young people with the necessary technical skills. Can you hear me?"
},
{
"id": 1555177,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555177/?format=api",
"text_counter": 37,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Just draw the microphone closer to your mouth."
},
{
"id": 1555178,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555178/?format=api",
"text_counter": 38,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Okenyuri",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I wish to state the following. While I appreciate the statement by Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda on upgrading Kisumu National Polytechnic to a university, I would also wish that the Statement draws us to some of the following concerns. Technical training institutions and national polytechnics are meant to equip young people with technical skills relevant for the job market. Currently, we have achieved the goal of constructing these institutions in various constituencies and counties. I see a general clamour from the political wing to have many of these institutions in their areas, but we are missing out on a major aspect. These institutions, which are providing training are not producing students who can fill the job market. You have a technical institution, which is training on issues of plumbing. However, around those areas, we do not have that market to get these graduates who are coming out of those institutions. I would wish that as we request that some of these institutions be upgraded to university status, we do not miss the point of meeting societal needs for those areas. Take a case study of SOS Technical Training Institute. They are training on issues to do with dairy farming and how students can preserve dairy farms and dairy products that are brought there. However, when you compare the number of students who will be absorbed outside, the number is very negligible. That is a blow to the young people who are expecting to get jobs in their different areas of study other than what we hoped for. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1555179,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555179/?format=api",
"text_counter": 39,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Okenyuri",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to complete by supporting the Statement by the Professor on the issue of funds set aside for the road network. As my colleagues have mentioned, the biggest enemy that is trying to kill devolution is the National Assembly. I wish that they would put themselves in our shoes because we have Members who were initially in the National Assembly and now in the Senate. You might be opposing things thinking that at no point will you ever be a Member of the Senate, and then you end up at the Senate and suffer the same frustration. We do not want to be lamenting about this. As usual, we process their Bills or issues that are coming from them with ease. However, anytime we have matters that are touching devolution and protecting the interest of counties, the National Assembly colleagues sabotage them. So, I support and urge that all Senators agree on this issue, that we carry it as a joint initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
},
{
"id": 1555180,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555180/?format=api",
"text_counter": 40,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Sen. Sifuna."
},
{
"id": 1555181,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555181/?format=api",
"text_counter": 41,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me to add my voice to what my colleagues have said regarding the statement by Sen. (Prof.) Ojienda. As you know, I am a regular user of that road from Kisumu to Busia, because it is the route I use to go and see my mother in the rural areas. I branch off at the Oyugis, join the road through Emuhaya and Sabatia, then go all the way through Mumias to Bungoma. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the state of that road, especially the distance after Maseno, all the way to Busia Town, as has been described by my colleagues and Sen. (Prof.) Ojienda, is in very bad shape. Allow me to be the devil's advocate for two institutions that have been mentioned very adversely here. First, let me attempt to say something positive about the Members of the National Assembly. I was in Bondo, just this weekend, where those pronouncements by the Hon. Raila were made. I remember hearing the Leader of Minority in the National Assembly, Hon. Junet Mohammed, saying publicly that they have accepted that in the past they have been an impediment to devolution. However, they were going to change their ways. In fact, he promised that this week there will be a resolution on both matters; the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) and the additional allocation to county governments. So, my colleagues, let us give them until the end of the week. Luckily for them, they are members of ODM. In ODM, we have only very few basic rules; that when Mzee Baba says left, you go left. So, on this question of RMLF, Baba has said left, and Hon. Junet has agreed that he is going to take that left turn. We are waiting to see it. On the question of RMLF, I think the Senator for Kitui had called out members of the Council of Governors. I saw that story in the news and they were quoting the Governor of Homa Bay, who is the Chairperson of ODM. In fact, what the Governor said is that because of what the National Assembly Members had given as an undertaking to deal with the question of RMLF and additional allocation this week, then really, as the Council of Governors, they were prepared, upon those concessions being made by the National Assembly, to withdraw that case on RMLF. It was not to say that they were ceding ground. At least, that is how I understood it to be. Mr. Speaker, Sir, let me just conclude by saying that even here in Nairobi, I was receiving petitions today from residents of Kilimani. They were reminding me of a sporting competition that we used to attend when we were a bit younger, called the Rhino The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}
]
}