Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1553406,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1553406/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 393,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wafula",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 348,
        "legal_name": "Davis Wafula Nakitare",
        "slug": "davis-nakitare"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to ventilate on the matter of Trans Nzoia. As a member of the Committee led by Sen. Abass, we had the privilege of mediating and bringing together these two individuals to stabilize Trans Nzoia County for the sake of development, tranquility, harmony and peace. However, it is unfortunate that despite the Senate facilitating this mediation, we are left with the impression, as indicated by our Chair, that the County Government of Trans Nzoia can no longer hold. If a deputy governor is denied access to their office, not assigned responsibilities, excluded from executive meetings and openly threatened by individuals known to the county government and state agencies, then it means that either the county government is headed to the dogs or we have a banana county. It could also mean that we have a problem and the county government is dysfunctional. Hon. Temporary Speaker, Members have alluded that there are simmering ethnic tensions rising at the grassroots level among leaders. As Sen. Tabitha highlighted, it is evident in speeches from leaders in Trans Nzoia, including the governor, which have been derogatory and threatening, targeting specific communities. The speeches suggest that members of specific communities do not have networks, do not know what they want and are not in the right political frame. Such utterances are creating tension on the ground. Last week, a County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in the County Government of Trans Nzoia openly abused a woman leader from the National Assembly in a derogatory manner. If a CECM can spew such venom publicly, what about the head of that institution? What message are we sending to Kenyans? That one can say anything, anywhere, anytime without going unpunished? Hon. Temporary Speaker, we invited the NCIC to the Senate. The Deputy Governor presented evidence to the Committee of insults, abuse and threats from individuals that are known. These individuals must be held accountable under the rule of law. If the same people are repeatedly used to tarnish, abuse, threaten and intimidate others, then the country is going to the dogs. We do not want a scenario where county governments become demagogic institutions led by individuals with stiff hands and necks, who fail to appreciate that we have a national and county governments that must work together for the benefit of the people. Therefore, I associate myself with this Report. I urge the Senate to pronounce itself that deputy governors must not only be seen, but also heard and actively involved in ensuring devolution meets the expectations of the founders of devolution. Denying deputy governors fuel, vehicles and resources while expecting them to deliver is unrealistic. This is a wake-up call to the Government of Kenya and institutions mandated 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."
}