Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1109202,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1109202/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 165,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "Chamber. They have got very young, able and well-educated legislators. On many occasions I follow the kind of issues that they talk about. Such Petitions would not be finding their way into the Houses of Parliament if our county assemblies took it upon themselves to ensure that they dealt with them. On many occasions, there might be a blurred line in relationships between the county executive officers and the MCAs. When it comes to matters of principles such as this where a citizen of a particular county feels that he was unfairly treated by their county government, I believe the county assembly has a committee in charge of labour issues that oversights the County Public Service Board (CPSB). They should simply invite the membership of the CPSB, the CECM in charge and ensure that they give a satisfactory response. If they are not satisfied they should give a resolution. In any case, a county assembly has got the powers to summon each and every member of the county executive, including the governor on any particular matter. They can even issue summons on a matter that might appear to be mundane in the overall view of what a county government is as the employment of a particular citizen and get to address some of these issues. Unfortunately, things have not matured to that level in many of our county assemblies. Therefore, you find that citizens get to write to the Senate instead. Perhaps they do so because they feel the weight of a national institution will be felt and then a governor or a county government will respond more appropriately if they are invited to a Parliament such as this. I wish to remind our colleagues in the 47 county assemblies that if they assert themselves and ensure that on any particular matter that concerns citizens of that particular county, they investigate and get to the bottom of it, and respond within the constitutional timelines and live as per the dictates of our Constitution, then over time, citizens will begin to gain trust in our county assemblies. If this happens, you will find that this particular gentleman who is petitioning us today, will instead report to Kisii County Assembly, raise his issues there and have them ably attended to. If the county government is at fault, if the allegations he is making are true and he has been unjustly treated, then his issues will be properly addressed and he will get the remedy that is needed. He will not have to travel to Nairobi and sometimes it is not very easy to access Parliament. Within your own county assembly in your county, things are a bit easier and more efficient. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Committee to which this matter will be referred to will deal with it. I believe part of the recommendations that they will send to him will be the first point of referral. Just like in a court of law, you cannot arise today on a matter which the magistrates court has jurisdiction and find yourself at the Supreme Court and say, ‘because this court is the most powerful, I want this case to be addressed immediately’. We must exhaust all the possible lower channels in addressing some of these issues, including even trying to seek mediation. We should even seek the services of a village elder who can provide a solution if you have an argument or a land dispute with a neighbour, or anything of the sort. In the same breadth of thinking, then it is possible to refer such people and let them know that before you consider tabling such a Petition before the Senate, you can"
}