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{
    "id": 1584767,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1584767/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 267,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Rarieda, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Otiende Amollo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Yes, we are the defendants. Most cases were initiated by either the Senate or the Council of Governors. I urge the Senate and the Council of Governors to take that cue. Instead of running to court, we should try and mediate our issues. In fact, it looks very untidy to a Kenyan that the Constitution says that there is the Parliament of Kenya, and then the Parliament of Kenya sues itself. It is actually an oxymoron, and it should be discouraged. We must understand that even though the Constitution creates institutions that are independent, they are also interdependent. That independence must not be taken to its illogical conclusion. We need not be antagonistic all the time. We can sit, discuss and agree. In fact, if we were to take the hard stance all the time, this House would emerge as the victor. I think this House has purposefully taken a step back for the betterment of the nation. It is a good thing that we were able, and we are navigating even the issue of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMFL). As we directed yesterday, we will be having a Kamukunji on it on Tuesday. As directed by the Court, we will be considering Sections 6 and 47 of the Kenya Roads Act. I believe that when we look at it, there are two things we ought to look at: One is the question of percentages. The court cannot determine for us how much to allocate; it can only encourage that we do not exclude. We will be talking percentages. We should go beyond percentages and talk about purpose. If we appropriate a certain percentage of the RFML, we should outline the exact purpose. It cannot before the purposes of constructing a footpath next to my home. It is now time we consider this because we are all suffering. While we can usually engage with the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) to try and do some murram roads here and there, the few roads that were tarmacked are all now being wiped out. We should now restrict anything that is allocated to the counties to the low-volume tarmac in the urban areas within our constituencies; that way, we can see what is being done. That is very important. If you take note of the two examples that are fully devolved – health and sports – many of the counties would rush to construct health facilities because that is easy politically. However, they would then not put any drugs because that is expensive, and it is not visible. Also, many counties would rush to put up a sports facility because that is visible, but fail to invest in sports equipment or sports tournaments. The idea of sports was removed from the NG-CDF, and none of us is now involved. In the whole country now, you will realise that there are no longer sports tournaments. The development of sports talent then just dies like that. I would like to conclude by saying that in the context of all this is the question of the NG-CDF. As the Speaker directed, we will be discussing this matter next week, especially the constitutional amendment, and then go on recess. At this point, I would like to urge Members to plan for next week so that you can be here. It would be a very unfortunate situation if we get to next week when we are supposed to raise two-thirds of the House, and then we hear that some Members are in their constituencies, abroad, in their offices, or in all sorts of other businesses that usually engage them. This is much more fundamental. I support, Hon. Speaker."
}