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"id": 404540,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/404540/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Hassan",
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"speaker": {
"id": 431,
"legal_name": "Hassan Omar Hassan Sarai",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I come to join the countless number of Senators who have spoken in support of this Bill. I have also come to join hands with my brother, Sen. Sang, from Nandi County, who I think has generated extra-ordinary public debate with respect to institutionalization and giving the framework for devolution at its very outset; and bringing in a very broad platform for leaders. This is something that I think the Constitution, in its own spirit, has envisaged and, therefore, this type of a Bill, by and large, goes a long way to restore order in our otherwise chaotic political scene that has been created with the advent of the new Constitution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my brother, Sen. Sang, knows that at the very outset, I had a general discussion with him and I did indicate to him that I will not support this Bill on account, particularly, of the sentiments that, I felt it might be a duplicity, and that it might strain our relationship with governors and other stakeholders within the broad play of the Constitution. But after careful internalization, and being a Senator who sits in the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human rights, where I have also internalized many of the discussions that have gone on from the public participation and the various stakeholders who we invited to give us input, I am now persuaded that this Bill is now the right direction to go. I know I was moved partly by my own personal experiences in Mombasa County, where I fairly get along with my Governor; and I do believe that based on that, I felt that we do not need an institution, but we just need to strengthen personal relationships. But I do know now, through the discussions we have had, that these problems cannot be solved by personal relationships but, rather through institutionalization of a process of dialogue and consultation that will ensure that the broad spectrum of the leaders that have been elected within the framework of the new Constitution are given an effective opportunity to participate in their development agenda. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if you look carefully, we also have to give our level of criticism to how devolution has started off. There have been the usual chaotic scenes that envisage any good building; whereas the plumber moves in one direction, the mason moves in the other direction, the electrician moves in the other direction but they are all building one particular house; and, finally, it must be that house that we all envisage. The Sang Bill does exactly the same; it puts texture, it puts a framework so that our house then stands on a foundation that will be unshakeable. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if you look at the criticism that I want to enunciate, if the devolution process is not managed at its outset, the very spirit, particularly under that servant leadership, might be defeated in terms of its implementation. Unfortunately, most of the governors that we have interacted with have not fully internalized the idea of servant leadership. Servant leadership means that you also develop a strategy of simplicity and accessibility; you try to tamper the otherwise arrogance that is developed by power. If we do not put up a framework, our governors might think that devolution is simply about creating little fiefdoms across this country and it will be unmanageable, almost impossible and impractical for Kenya to manage 47 fiefdoms across the country. If we do not tame the chaos, we might have another constitutional crisis similar to the one of the previous Constitution; that we have created 47 very powerful centres that almost always can disregard the opinion of any other person or parties. I think 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"
}