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{
    "id": 1243786,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1243786/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 205,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "As others have said, the role of the Senate is misunderstood. There is a lot of ignorance around this House. I am suggesting that even as we plan to go, we model our oversight, representation and legislative roles. I suggest that we can also model how Article 189 of the Constitution on intergovernmental relations is supposed to work. I suggest that we prepare to engage with county assemblies particularly on the role of oversight so that we use the opportunity to build capacity and clarify what the role of county assemblies and the Senate is. When one of the county Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee (JLAHRC) visited recently - I will not mention which one - I was a bit embarrassed at their understanding of what the committee role was. They thought that they have a role in setting up courts in counties. So, they felt they had not been operationalized for a very long time because the Judiciary has not been devolved. I was embarrassed. In fact, we were embarrassed as a Committee when we heard that. We can use this opportunity to meet with the various committees at the counties to provide part of their capacity building or technical support that can enable them to do their job as legislators at the county. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, even as we go, I suggest we engage on the issue of getting financial autonomy for county assemblies so that we discuss it. We can even start discussing with some of the counties. Before any substantive legislation is done, we need to start persuading county executives to allow county assemblies to operate as independent entities. However, for as long as they are not independent entities, county assemblies will be held at ransom by county executives. I am suggesting that any pending audit report for Turkana County be prepared. Maybe the Committees dealing with this issue should fast track so that when we go down, we engage with the public on representation. The Senator for Turkana County will talk about matters of Turkana that the House has gone through, the key findings and engage with the executive to guide them on how they can work better. The House Committees should engage with the other House Committees so that in the morning sessions, we carry out trainings. I suggest that Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA) also prepare to provide capacity to nominated Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) within the county. That way, by the time we leave Turkana County, we leave behind a record that makes them better legislators, executive and so on. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I urge Members to fish out the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) for Turkana County and read it. We should even look at the annual report so that when we go there, we are able to engage with them in such a way that every county that we will go to, know the Senate is not just coming here for holiday, but to hold us accountable in terms of devolution. If we plan this properly, this may very well be one of the tools that we will use to sell the function of the Senate and keep the Senate relevant. At this time, the Senate is unpopular because we did not protect counties when it came to the Division of Revenue Bill. We need to confirm to the country that was one incident. We are now remorseful, ready to work and carry out our task as the Senate. We"
}