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{
    "id": 1381782,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1381782/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 284,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "separates them is not extremely difficult to the point that the mediation committee as set up in this Bill may not resolve. This is a wise move and a good proposal to have a mediation committee, so that we do not have to fix everything. It would be impossible to imagine that we could get to a point where we would draw the boundaries accurately so there would be no conflict. So long as you are neighbours, you will always disagree about boundaries. Those of us who come from densely populated communities, I do not know anybody who has a neighbour who does not quarrel over a bull that keeps on crossing the fence and invades the maize fields of their neighbours or somebody who has planted a tree on the wrong part of the field or a wall that is wrongly placed. The same is expected of our county governments. Therefore, setting up a mediation committee that features proposals from both counties to meet, try and amicably resolve this process is a genius move. Consequently, I agree with the provisions of the Bill. Further to it is the process of the alteration of boundaries of our counties, which is a very difficult exercise. I say difficult because of the provisions of Section 188(2). Even if we went through all the rigors of this Bill, we must remember that eventually the report to alter a county boundary must come before the floor of both Houses. Two-thirds of the Members in both Houses must pass it. In the three terms that I have been in this House, there is no law that has raised two-thirds. Maybe only the impeachment of Deputy Speaker, Sen. Kindiki Kithure, where people were mobilized, some from hospital beds to come and execute very dirty work on the Floor of this House. Apart from this, there has never been another occurrence. The Senate threshold is easier to achieve because two-thirds is 45 Senators out of the 67. Imagine the situation at the National Assembly, out of the 349 Members, to get two-thirds, which is about 233 Members, balancing all the interests because of all the political play that comes into it is not an easy exercise. This provision is genius because of gerrymandering. A strong political party, not even a President, can sit down and alter the boundary of a country to feed certain political interests and have Parliament rubber stamp it. It will take a lot of negotiations. It is akin to the magical 24 number. Many of those who have not been able to live through this House in the formula passing processes will enjoy and appreciate the genius of the magical 24 delegations next year when we begin discussing the fifth-generation formula. As proposed in part four of the Bill, this process considers altering county boundaries that believe physical and human infrastructure, historical ties and cost of administration. It will not be as easy as people imagine. Once a process has gone through the independent commission being set up, Parliament will have the eventual vote on how this exercise is done. Hence, the importance of the earlier point I mentioned about the need for a mediation committee. People need to know that even as they mediate, they will be stuck with the problem if they fail the mediation exercise. It will not be easy. For a county boundary to The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services, Senate."
}