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    "id": 1198677,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1198677/?format=api",
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    "content": "presence of the people that elected them. Unfortunately, the present system, as currently constituted, is flawed. It is unfortunate that I am saying this as I move a Motion to constitute a Committee. The nine Senators that have been charged with the responsibility of leading this Committee and look into the books of accounts of our county assemblies, executives and special funds should know that they are doing this important task on behalf of Kenyans and their colleagues. They should treat it as a position of honour and trust. They should ensure that they keep the dignity of this House in high regard in every assignment and duty that they undertake. Let us not be reduced to a laughing stock. The County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee has made us a laughing stock because of the leadership that it has had over the years. In fact, in the Council of Governors, the governors consult for free. They say, “if you are appearing before the Committee tomorrow, I can help you with a number which if you call, you will have a favorable appearance.” We do not want to hear such stories. We want people to be held to account. We want colleagues serving in this Committee to be people of honor. A county governor who has been found to have their hand in the county ‘cookie jar’ should be exposed and the citizens of that county should know the truth. The Committee on Delegated Legislation is important. This administration intends to bring not less than 50 regulations before this House for this Committee to look through and agree whether those regulations are in conformity with our Constitution, statutes and Acts of Parliament that have been passed. The work of this Committee is clearly cut out for them. I expect that Committee to work with a lot of dignity and honour and ensure that the Executive does not bring regulations that will claw back the gains of devolution. On many occasions, those regulations respect the letter and spirit of devolved county units. They should ensure that we no longer hear about the animal called Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC). How do you explain that 12 years after the set up of the county governments in 2013, we still have functions that have not been transferred and assets that are yet to be properly registered? It is 12 years down the line and we still have disputes rising between national and county executive. The Committee on Delegated Legislation needs to settle these issues with finality for the citizens of this country to enjoy the gains of devolution and build on it. Lastly, I want to say this respectfully to my colleagues. It is not possible to have all of us in one Committee. I know people have different opinions. I have interacted with many first time Senators and I have heard them say, ‘I want to be a certain Committee. I hear it is most prestigious.’ For the many terms that I have served in this House, I have never met the manual, imagined or real, which ranks a certain Committee higher than the other. When we had changes because of the political situations that were going on in this country in the last Parliament, some of us were removed from the committees we were serving. I wish Sen. M. Kajwang’ was here. I was taken to the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations; a Committee which was not in many ways regarded to"
}