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{
    "id": 404058,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/404058/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 280,
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    "content": "authority of the county governments. We are only seeking a platform for us to engage and to contribute to the development of our counties. This board will only make recommendations and offer advice. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the person being advised to take or not to take up the advice. However, we, as elected leaders in our counties, will have done our bit in ensuring that our voices are heard. The board is already in line with some of the constitutional sections of the County Governments Act. Section 91 of the County Governments Act provides that at the county level, there would be a platform and an avenue for elected leaders at the county level to engage with county governments. I think this is creating a specific platform in accordance with Section 91 of the County Governments Act. Some issues have also been raised with regard to the functioning of the board. Allegations have been made to the effect that this Board will take over the responsibilities of the MCAs. However, MCAs have the constitutional mandate to approve budgets, County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) and all the others. The Board will only provide advice. It is absurd for somebody to imagine that an advice would mean taking the approved responsibilities of the county assemblies. It is important that we allay some of these fears. These structures will provide a platform for elected leaders, especially for the Senate to carry out these oversight responsibilities. As I finalise, it is important to note that in politics, that is where all of us are, we may not have the legal recognition. However, the moment you lose political recognition, that becomes the end of the position. I think one of the constitutional flaws and among the gaps that exist is how to provide a platform for the Senator at the county level. At the end of the five years, you will be asked by your residents and voters what you did, as a Senator, for the county. It is important for us to find these opportunities. In one of the public forums, one participant, interestingly, gave us a very weird analogy of where a Senator finds himself verses where a Governor finds himself. In his own words, he said that a Senator operates “in space” while a Governor operates “in place”. We need to provide a landing ground for the Senator who has been operating in space. I think this is one of the platforms that we need to give Senators and all elected leaders so that they meet and design the destiny of their counties. They should make recommendations, have discussions, and create goodwill and advice the counties. Some Senators in this House are very senior politicians in this country. For example, the Chairman of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee is a distinguished legal practitioner of this country with a wealth of experience in terms of leadership and running of Government. This also applies to the rest. Why can their counties not benefit from their expertise and wisdom? It is important that we provide that platform so that we move development at the county level. We should create a sense of collective responsibility by the entire leadership in all our counties. It is important that this Senate proceeds to amend this Act which is enacting constitutional responsibility. If somebody decides to stand in the way of the Senate in carrying out its legislative responsibility, that will be unconstitutional. Therefore, we have addressed all the issues. We will look at the wording of the amendment Bill so that 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"
}