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{
    "id": 1102404,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1102404/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 288,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kihika",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13216,
        "legal_name": "Susan Wakarura Kihika",
        "slug": "susan-wakarura-kihika"
    },
    "content": "be. If any governor was not part of the choir for the ‘handshake’ and BBI was brought to the Senate, then they would be removed. If they were part of the choir and probably the choirmasters like some that we saw, then they would quickly be made as white as snow and nothing would happen to them. The problem with that is that we have seen an era where no governor stands up for even these delayed disbursements. We have not had even one governor, not even the Chair of the Council of Governors (CoG), whom I agree with Sen. Murkomen is probably just the most useless and probably a photo-finish with Gov. Oparanya, because Gov. Oparanya was a disaster. Mr. Temporary Chairman, Sir, I do recall at the funeral of the late Gov. Laboso, as the Senate fought hard with the National Assembly that more money was added. Gov. Oparanya actually had the nerve to stand at the funeral of the late Gov. Joyce Laboso and lecture the Senate for what he called or termed as our own interest in fighting to make sure that the counties were added money. When you have such a chairperson and the lacklustre Gov. Wambora, then this is what the results become. I actually remember when I was the Speaker in the County Assembly of Nakuru and the Vice Chair of the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) back in 2013 through to 2017. That was a time when the Forum, as well as CoG, seemed to be vibrant and know what they were supposed to do. Mr. Temporary Chairman, Sir, at the time, I remember with nostalgia Gov. Isaac Ruto. I wish we would get more chairpersons of the CoG like Gov. Isaac Ruto. I may not necessarily agree with him on many other things. However, on being a Chairperson of CoG, he has no equal. Gov. Munya tried a bit, but the bar was raised by Gov. Isaac Ruto. I would wish that going forward, we would have governors who are focused as the chairpersons of this Council or even others who have the nerve, confidence or courage to stand up for the counties. However, because they have been captured and part of it is their own doing. They have stolen from the counties. Their cases or files are always kept and locked at that cowboy Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer. Mr. Temporary Chairman, Sir, I am not sure what his name his, maybe somebody could remind me. The cowboy keeps the files in his top locker. If a governor speaks, then they are called and told, ‘tomorrow you will be investigated,’ and the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission (EACC) officers as well. You have seen the extremely compromised governors who then cannot speak. They have become like the timid mice and the counties are actually on their own. We are here and passing this Disbursement Schedule. I am looking at it and seeing that there was supposed to be a disbursement back on 15th July and 15th August that did not happen. Now, we are looking at 15th of September with Kshs62 billion in arrears. Then, you have counties that are struggling to pay their bills and provide services for their citizens. It is just a pathetic and awful site that we have going. Mr. Temporary Chairman, Sir, when the country is so unfocused that we are talking about Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and adding more seats at the top, instead of strengthening devolution and making counties extremely strong. This is so that we"
}