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{
    "id": 1555174,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555174/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 34,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I do not know why Sen. Sifuna is so happy that I have the microphone. I also want to make comments on the Statement by Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda on the status of the Kisumu-Busia Road infrastructure. I hasten to say that lately Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda has been very active on matters of infrastructure and the people of Kisumu County should take note. Having said that, this is a matter that resonates with many of us in the Senate. It shall be remembered that I have raised this matter on the issue of the Kibwezi-Mutomo- Kitui Road many times. That road does not just serve the people of the Mt. Kenya South region. It also serves the region from Mombasa all the way to Isiolo, and connects Kenya with Addis Ababa. It is actually an international transport corridor. I would urge the committee as they continue to look into these issues, to ensure that that road is completed because the section of road remaining is less than 20 kilometers to connect it to the Mwingi-Garissa Road and then, of course, the payment part. Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me once again to add onto that Statement and say that this matter of the RMLF is one that this House needs to make a statement on and ensure that we call out the right people. I agree with Sen. Osotsi, Sen. Wamatinga and the leader of ODM, Hon. Raila Odinga, that one of the greatest enemies of devolution in this country is Members of the National Assembly. These people behave as though Article 93 of the Constitution was created just for them; that the Senate and nobody else exists apart from the National Assembly. I stand today on the Floor of this Senate to say that even as they consider the statement by Raila Odinga on their role in killing devolution, they should know that Hon. Raila Odinga spoke for Kenyans; he did not even speak for himself. The other category of leaders that we need to call out as a Senate - and I want my colleagues to listen to me very carefully - is the Council of Governors (CoG). Do you know that I have information that governors are now contemplating withdrawing the case in court on the Kshs10 billion that is supposed to go to counties for roads maintenance, so that in exchange they can be given some little peanuts? This House is the one supposed to negotiate monies going to counties. It is not the business of governors to negotiate what money goes to the counties. That is not their business. They should wait for the Senate to negotiate what goes to the counties then they implement what has been budgeted for them to implement. I ask my colleagues to rise up, speak to their individual governors and tell them that we are watching. It can never happen that governors will be intimidated or accept to withdraw the case in court before that matter is determined. As a Senate, we believe that the Kshs10 billion is money that 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."
}