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{
    "id": 1291974,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1291974/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 92,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Chimera",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "For your information, I happen to have served in the National Election Board of the ruling party. I am pretty much aware of and involved in the process that leads to the nomination of Members to various county assemblies, the Senate and the National Assembly. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is a concern that we have political parties that do not necessarily align with the dictates of what it means to nominate people to the county assemblies, Senate and National Assembly. I have no issues with the quality of leaders who came to the Senate and the National Assembly. My colleague, Sen. Mundigi, might be wrong by insisting on having some of us go through psychological tests or a psychiatrist. It is unfortunate that these are words from my colleague Senator, but I know he has his own reasons. Otherwise, I strongly believe that the people we sent to this Senate are of sound mind and are doing their duty as required by the Constitution and the Standing Orders. As a party, we stand by that list. Let me speak to the issue of political parties that nominate people who do not come from those localities, especially in our county assemblies. If you have ever worked in a political setup where there are many diverse competing interests, you nominate people who have been involved actively in the politics of the day and of that party. Mr. Speaker, Sir, let us balance and have a thin line between those we sent to our county assemblies and those who have worked for and truly believe in the manifesto of that particular political party. In some areas like Kwale County, where I come from, I am sad to say that I have personally been involved in a number of Petitions before the High Court in Mombasa. There was a ruling from the High Court in Mombasa that threw out about five Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) on the account that they are not people from Kwale County. I might disagree with that ruling, but to some extent, it has the merit that it deserves. I am sorry to say this because the leader of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) is sitting with me here, as my colleague Senator. However, political parties gave us people from Mandera and Wajir to come and serve in the County Assembly of Kwale. I shudder to imagine what someone from North Eastern knows about Kwale County. What issues would someone from a place like Kilifi, serving in Kwale County, articulate in that assembly? What issues affecting the livelihood of the people of Kwale would he be willing to advance, support and caucus? Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is time we bring sanity to how we nominate our members to the county assemblies. It is time that nominations become purely an issue of balancing between the local politics of the day and the competence that is required. Finally, I am a Member of the Committee that, perhaps, this Petition will come to. I am ready and willing to support my Chair, Sen. Sigei. I call upon many stakeholders to come out strongly. Let us argue, discuss and engage in a positive and serious discourse on how we nominate Members to our county assemblies. We cannot afford to play politics with our county assemblies. If you all agree with me, county assemblies are the tier ones when it comes to matters of oversight. You cannot nominate girlfriends, people you know, cronies or relatives of those who run the The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}