Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1624828,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1624828/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 43,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Abass",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move- THAT, the Senate adopts the report of the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on a Petition to the Senate by Mr. Laban Omusundi concerning the branding of public projects with images of governors and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and branding of county vehicles, laid at the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 3rd June, 2025. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on 2nd September, 2024, the Senate received a Petition from Mr. Laban Omusundi, a resident of Nakuru County and the Executive Director of Grassroot Civilian Oversight Initiative, concerning the matter of branding public projects with images of governors and MCAs, and branding of county vehicles. The Petition was presented in the Senate on Tuesday, 9th October, 2024 by the Speaker of the Senate, pursuant to Standing Order No.236(2)(b) of the Senate Standing Orders. Consequently, the Petition stood committed to the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations pursuant to Standing Order No.238(1) of the Senate Standing Orders. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the salient issues raised in the Petition were that county funded projects across all 47 counties are emblazoned with portraits, images and names of governors and MCAs, as if projects were funded by them and not taxpayers. Further, that these political elites in the counties have been allowed to massage their respective political egos and use spaces of public funded projects to advertise and brand themselves for personal political cause without checks and balances. The petitioner referred to Article 231(4) of the Constitution that disallows the portrait of any individual on our currency. He was concerned that the political elites are allowed to brand taxpayers funded projects with their respective portraits, images or names. Noting that historically, some kings used their respective portraits in that manner to be seen as gods and superior, it differs from provisions of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, which refers to an elected leader as a selfless servant, not a small god. He added that it was high time to reject this self-aggrandizement of using taxpayers’ money to brand political elites and perpetuate personal political egos, which is contrary to Article 75(1) of the Constitution of Kenya. Further that, county governments’ vehicles have been used for personal effects to the political elites and other unbecoming staff of counties courtesy of branding those vehicles. The petitioner claimed that efforts made to address this matter with the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Attorney General were futile since there was no response. The petitioner’s prayers were that the Senate- (a) amends the County Governments Act, 2012 to insert a clause to permanently restrain governors and MCAs from branding their respective portraits, images or names on public funded projects of the counties as it was done to our currency by disallowing portraits of any individual; 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."
}