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{
    "id": 1492984,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1492984/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 302,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ugenya, MDG",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. David Ochieng’",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2955,
        "legal_name": "David Ouma Ochieng'",
        "slug": "david-ouma-ochieng"
    },
    "content": "It is not just corruption. I do not believe corruption is the issue in the counties. When we went for the majimbo system, there are reasons why we decided to go to counties. In 5, 10, and 11 years, we should not be talking about the counties… The other day, I was appointed a member of a Mediation Committee. We cannot be having counties crying for money every year and yet, the Senate has not made a law to ensure that there is discipline on how those counties collect their own source revenue and use them. We must hold the Senate to account on its role regarding what the law says - that they must protect the counties. They are not doing it. For example, I remember in June this year, the Senate called people here to discuss what happened with regard to the young people who stormed Parliament. The Shakahola issue. Oh, the exchange rates going down to 140. What is their business with that? People are dying in the counties. We need to have the Senate doing its job. We need the counties to work. People want to grow in this country. The Senate should be told in unequivocal words to go back to its work as indicated in Article 96 of the Constitution. It is not about sibling rivalry; it is about the leadership of the Senate and taking the job. The only time we see the Senate talking about counties is if they are impeaching a governor. The only time we hear the Senate talking about something is when there is a governor coming on audit issues and, I dare say, extortion. If there is no money that is being exchanged, you do not see any seriousness in them. The reason they even go to calling principal secretaries and cabinet secretaries is not because they want the best for the country. It is not because there is something they will do for us. It is because they want a chance for rent-seeking. It has to stop, and this House has to stop it! Hon. Temporary Speaker, it is us who must put our feet down as Hon. Chepkong’a has said. If you cannot vet, you should not oversee and hold people accountable. They do not vet cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries. What will they do if they do not go back there? What will the Senate do if the cabinet secretaries refused to go there? What can they do? Even the impeaching of the President and the Deputy President must start from here. They cannot even settle their own problems. It is the lower house! It has always been and it must be. This must be communicated to them in unequivocal terms. If we do not do it, we will continue with this confusion. The courts are as guilty as charged in causing this mess and the confusion. Every time we have a matter, they run to court and the court stands with them. Devolution was meant to work and the board is set up. This was supposed to be a specialised institution to help guide, nurture and direct how counties work. This is not a small matter, and I hope our Hon. Speaker, will take this with the weight it deserves. As I finish, I also want to give a rider…"
}