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{
    "id": 386790,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/386790/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 170,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this Motion specifically because if you read Article 6 of the Constitution, it is very clear that counties are the second level of Government and, therefore, we have 48 governments in this country. In Article 96, it talks about our responsibility to be the guardian angels of devolution. I have a problem with the current devolution laws. I had the advantage of serving in the task force that drafted the devolution legislation including the Devolved Government Act, 2012. One of the proposals then was to ensure that Senators have a link with county Assemblies and particularly make it mandatory for all Senators to address County Assemblies at least three times in a year. The reason was that it gives the opportunity for the Senator to report what they have been doing as per Article 96 of the Constitution. It also gives the opportunity to the Senator to be able to collect the ideas that come from the County Assembly. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I believe that at the opportune time, this House will bring back those provisions to allow the Senators, as a matter or right, to address the County Assembly. The reason for that is that it must not be assumed that all Senators are basically recognized by their County Assemblies as it were, either because the political leanings that the Senator may be different from the County Assembly and so forth. But that must be explained through a legislation because, tomorrow, it is possible that most of us will go there and you will be lucky to sit in the House because it is not mandatory. The rules are merely permissive, but it does not make it mandatory for these hon. Senators to sit there. If that is not done, we will continue undermining the position and the responsibility of the Senator. So, I support this Motion and I believe at the opportune time, this shall not be just a mere permissive will of the County Assembly nor is it just a mere permissive will of the County Government but it shall be mandatory. The other issue to note is that the County Assemblies complement our work as much as they oversight the County Executive which we are also doing. We are doing oversight role for the County Assemblies and the Legislature. They play a major role and most of the County Assemblies think, particularly in areas where the Members are elected from the same party as the Governor that they are there to be subordinates to the The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}