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{
    "id": 385438,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/385438/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 45,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "were misappropriated by going to buy land that eventually became a big scandal called “the cemetery scandal.” Supposing these funds had been borrowed and in the books of the now Nairobi County, these cemetery funds are retained as a debt, what will happen? We also know that most of the debts which are currently being serviced by the counties have arisen from such responsibilities as paying ghost workers who are still existent in their payrolls. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if we just pass a blanket Motion that gives blanket amnesty to the county governments, this Senate will not have acted in its full responsibility. It is important that we support this Motion. However, we support it with a caveat that the debts which these Senate will be asking the central Government to take over be audited by the relevant departmental Committees before they are taken over by the Central Government. I would want to refer to the contribution of one of the Senators yesterday who said that we have relevant Committees in this Senate which are capable of dealing with such an issue. We all know we only have 47 county governments. Could we ask them to forward all the debts that they are required to service to the relevant Committees of this Senate for validation. It is the responsibility of those Committees to tell us which debts were incurred in the right way before we enact a legislation which will force the central Government to write off or take over those debts. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as my colleague was making his contribution, he insinuated that the County of Kiambu is a special beneficiary of skewed development from the successive governments since Independence. I would like to invite my colleague, Sen. Khalwale, to Kiambu County. I know that he comes from Kakamega. It has been a long time since he visited that county. He could be speaking out of facts. The people of Kiambu struggle like every other Kenyan to make ends meet. We have limited facilities just like other people in other counties. It is true there are parts of this country which have not had the advantage of getting some of the services because of their geographical location. The purpose of this Senate is to ensure services are taken to people in all counties. The people of Kiambu are not beneficiaries of any skewed arrangement as alleged by the hon. Senator. The people of Kiambu would be happier if Sen. (Dr) Khalwale address issues affecting all Kenyans in general because they all suffer the same problems like the people of Kakamega County. We are one nation with similar problems. Only by looking at issues like that can we deliver the required services to this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion. I would be proposing that an amendment be moved that requires those debts be forwarded here for validation."
}