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{
    "id": 1261976,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1261976/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 61,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "this is what used to happen in our industry.” Therefore, I celebrate what colleague Senators have done in the last few weeks and I hope that we can continue to more. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as you know, all these Senators are human beings made of flesh and blood. Occasionally, they deserve a rest and that is why we are moving this Motion so that we go on a two-week recess. Senators can find time to interact with their constituents. One of the most difficult things to do as a local politician in this country is to connect what you do in this House with the people you represent. Otherwise, if you remain in this House talking a lot of big English, waiting for five years to go back home and say I have been representing you in the House where you sent me, you may never see the hallowed four walls of this Senate again. Therefore, recess is the period through which we find time to go sort out a few local issues that require our attention. Mr. Speaker, sir, you are aware that this administration has again set a record as the first administration under the new Constitution to transfer all the devolved funds of a particular financial year before the end of that particular financial year. The last five to seven financial years has been weeping and gnashing of teeth in various county governments as the national Government waits until 10th July sometimes and then you are asked to spend the money within two days. It is not unusual to find Chief Officers of Finance hiding in some dingy places in the various capital of our counties trying to pay a few well-connected suppliers. That is not the case this financial year. The President confirmed to the country on Sunday that as of last week, each of the 47 county governments had received its full amount of shareable revenue for this financial year. That is something quite commendable. That is the kind of spirit and belief. We normally tell our colleagues on the Minority side that it is not just about the amount. There is a lot more that shows we believe in devolution. Therefore, because of the funds that have been sent to various counties, I urge colleague Senators to take time and pay keen interest on how much of the money will go to actual development. The recess period provides us an opportunity. You are aware that courtesy of a report that was moved on the Floor of this House by the Committee on Finance and Budget of the 2nd Senate, each county has an officer from the Office of the Controller of Budget (CoB). That is a report that we moved here in 2018. I am proud to have been part and parcel of that Committee. We felt it was difficult to rely on officers based in Nairobi to give us real time updates. In fact, I want to encourage you, Sen. Onyonka and Sen. Kavindu Muthama. You need to know the officers in your counties and ask them to give you weekly reports, so that you do a comparative study. For example, if Kshs500 billion was sent to Kisii, how much of it went to actual development and how much was used to pay for things that have a direct impact on the people that you represent? We should know those people because it is important for you, as a Senator."
}