Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1553286,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1553286/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 273,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Oketch Gicheru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "that in that lack of communication, whether deliberate or otherwise, it indicates that there is a conflict. The third observation is that the ongoing rift between the governor and the deputy governor is fueling ethnic animosities among the communities in Trans Nzoia County. This is not a light observation. We are in a country where we have seen political mobilisation along ethnic lines bringing this country down. We observed that in 2007 when there was political tension on a claimed rigged election leading to tribal clashes whose magnitude we still remember to date. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it will interest you to know that the Governor of Trans Nzoia, Hon. Natembeya, comes from the Luhya Community, while the Deputy Govenor, Hon. Philomena, comes from the Kalenjin Community. In Trans Nzoia, Kalenjin and Luhya communities are quite sizeable. If the conflict is bringing some tribal animosities that the Committee of this House observed, I do not think we should waste the time of this House to not discuss the depth of that problem. The fourth observation is that the NCIC started an investigation on the matter, but never concluded so that the Committee gives us their input. You have heard me complaining here a number of times that the NCIC like the EACC and other independent commissions that are supposed to do oversight role or execute in terms of dealing with issues such as corruption, never get anywhere. What that observation tells you is that it is this House that must conclude the problem that we are seeing in Trans Nzoia County. We should not leave it to the NCIC or any other independent commission hoping that they will address the issue. Lastly, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Committee observed that the Governor of Trans Nzoia was very much willing to have the working relationship with the deputy governor restored. That is a contradiction. The same Governor who said there is no dispute between the two of them now wishes that their relationship is restored. Even going further to state that the issues impacting their relationships could be solved amicably to have them run the county smoothly. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, my observation tells us that we, as a country, are constantly going to face an imminent challenge of deputy governors and governors never going to find a working formula. We have complained in this House when we observe that the deputy governor and governor positions are sometimes about who controls what numbers and not necessarily who can work with the other. In some instances, we have seen a good working relationship. It is becoming clearer that this constant conflicts between deputy governors and the governors that is making counties constantly untenable. This thing is problematic because there are instances where a governor will spend more resources than his deputy governor. As a result of this kind of conflict, it becomes an avenue of even some governors are being impeached so that their deputies can take over. We are lucky that we have two former governors in this House who are foundational to devolution and did not experience this. They manage their relationship very well. We can glean some moral from them; that is, Sen. Mandago and Governor Sen. Ali Roba. They did quite well in terms of how to manage their deputies. 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."
}