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{
    "id": 404065,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/404065/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 287,
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    "content": "Constitution and, in particular, Schedule Six of the Constitution. So, we are very much consistent with that. Under Article 179 of the Constitution, the county authority is vested in and exercised by the County Executive Committee consisting of the Governor, his deputy and members of the executive, with the Governor being the Chief Executive. I can assure you that this Bill does not interfere with the functions of the Chief Executive or the county executive committee as laid down under Article 183 of the Constitution. I do not want to go through what that provides. But I just want to assure you that it does not interfere with their functions whatsoever. When it comes to the county assembly, I want to assure you that this Bill does not in any way interfere with the powers of the County Assembly to make laws necessary for the effective performance of the functions and exercise of the powers of the county government under the Fourth Schedule which is set out under Article 182 (2) of the Constitution. This Bill does not interfere with the functions, both of the county executive and of the county assembly. This Bill does not interfere with the oversight functions of the county assembly, the executive committee and any other executive organ. Therefore, the fears that have been raised, a close examination of the Bill land the amendments that we are proposing will clearly show that we have not interfered with the any of those functions of the county executive and the county assembly. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, our role as Senate, as the Mover of the Motion had clearly stated, is to represent the interests of the county and to protect the county and its government. It is also to legislate. Those functions have been given to us by the people in whom the sovereignty of this country is vested. I know this looks like an obvious thing. However, I wanted to emphasize it because when people are now exercising their right to vote and they are voting for the Governor---. When they are voting for the Governor and the Deputy Governor, they are delegating to that Governor executive authority. They are telling the Governor to exercise the executive authority in accordance with the Constitution. But when the same people are now voting for the Senator, Member of the National Assembly, Members of the County Assembly, they are telling these people: “Go and represent us in legislation, in the oversight role and in all the other issues that matter’. So, really when it comes to the county, the voice of the county is not the Governor, but the Senator. We have been elected by people to be their voice in the issues relating to the county. The role of the Governor is to exercise executive function in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. We are the voice of the people. We are the protectors of the people. Therefore, we, as Senators, cannot be told to go and stay in Nairobi and argue about division of revenue and so on. However, when it comes to the county, the Governors are the bosses. This cannot happen because we are there. I want that point to come out clearly because it is not coming out as clearly as it ought to come out. The Governors are the executive authority. Therefore, they should remain executive and we shall not interfere, except in our oversight role. We shall point out the mistakes they make. We shall do this with vigour and gusto because we are protecting the interests of the people at the county level. 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"
}