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{
    "id": 1399221,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399221/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 211,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13199,
        "legal_name": "Enoch Kiio Wambua",
        "slug": "enoch-kiio-wambua"
    },
    "content": "I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I take this opportunity to thank Sen. M. Kajwang’ for reviving this important debate on county boundaries, by bringing forth the County Boundaries Bill, 2023. As Sen. Orwoba has rightfully said, this is a matter that has engaged debates on this Floor severally. It has precipitated conflicts in many counties across this country. For acknowledging that this Bill is meant to provide for proper county boundaries, make provisions for dissolution of disputes among and between counties, I thank the Senator for coming up with the Bill. I will open my debate on this matter by also acknowledging that county disputes are serious disputes. They pose an existential threat to peace, stability, order and national cohesion in any country, not just in Kenya. It is worrying that as we speak today, we have running conflicts between counties, numbering not less than 20. The most recent being the Kisii and Nyamira counties dispute, based on a desire by respective county governments to collect revenue from towns that are declared disputed. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I come from Kitui County, which has a running dispute on boundaries with Tana River. To put the record straight because there are people who like seeing disputes where they do not exist, or just assume there are disputes, Kitui does not share a border with Garissa. There has never been any dispute between Kitui and Garissa counties in as far as boundaries are concerned. We do not share a boundary, but we share a boundary with Tana River, but on the way to Garissa. It will go on record that this matter needs to be resolved as fast as possible, as is the case with all the other disputes in other counties. Why do I say this? I say this because the recent disputes over boundaries are largely precipitated by a genuine legitimate desire by counties and their governments to collect revenue and raise their own-source revenue in order to give services to their people. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there is a standing dispute today on where exactly Konza City lies. Is it in Makueni, Kajiado or Machakos counties? Some of these disputes are easy to resolve if there is goodwill to resolve them. I have just glanced at the First Schedule of the proposed Bill by Sen. M. Kajwang’. I dare say to my brother, Sen. M. Kajwang’, that the First Schedule is the more reason we must review our boundaries. When you look at how those boundaries are captured and even drawn - and I have taken this Bill and read through it - I cannot locate the boundaries of Kitui using this First Schedule. It is not just Kitui, but all the counties. 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 and AudioServices, Senate."
}