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{
    "id": 1109153,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1109153/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 116,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "Some are still working together because the deputy has chosen it for the comfort of their salary and not losing their official car. They could have chosen the peace and path of just lying low like an envelope, as is often said. Yet in reality, they are not living up to the dictates of our Constitution. It is a challenge and I do not know which Committee you will refer this Petition to; perhaps, the Committee on Justice, Human Rights and Legal Affairs. You will determine that in your own discretion. Their findings will be quite interesting. It will be good for us having reflected on the two terms of our President and his Deputy and two terms of various county governments and seeing these challenges that arise. It will be important for them to provide an avenue. There will be no problem if they consider that there is need for a constitutional amendment. If there is goodwill, we can raise the 45 Senators that are needed and pass any of these amendments for responsibilities and duties in the office of a Deputy President and deputy governor. That most likely seems to be the desire and direction that this petitioner wants. He also wants us to provide an avenue for replacing those people. This is because even today, as things stand, through the County Governments Act at least we have made it possible for governors to nominate their deputies. Remember the Nairobi City County Government situation where Governor Sonko stayed close to three years without a deputy governor. There was a lacuna in law and we could do nothing. Thanks to the amendment we passed in this House and our colleagues in the ‘lower’ House agreed with us. The problem is no longer with the deputy governors. At the national level, if there was to be a vacancy in that office either now or in the future, there is not proper mechanism provided for doing it. That is the other challenge we need to provide, either by way of an election or nomination. Let it be clear so that we do not leave it to people’s imagination. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I look forward to hearing the thoughts of our colleagues who serve in that Committee will be on this issue. Is it possible to give responsibilities as per the dictates of our Constitution or an amendment to the County Government Act? That would be of much interest to this House, being the first one and the father of devolution or even at the national level, such that it will no longer be business as usual. There is a problem and we must concur that there is a need. Many people do not agree on how to solve it, but at least the opinion is unanimous that, indeed, there is a challenge. The overall drafting of those two articles of our Constitution were not as elaborate as it should have been. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."
}