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{
    "id": 418220,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/418220/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 125,
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    "content": "assets, including the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). Some of us in our interpretation of the Constitution allude to a point that Sen. Boy Juma Boy has alluded to. We reasonably believe that the provisions of this Constitution vest the management of the port authorities and ferries to the county governments. You can see, as we were debunking some of the areas of devolution - the transfer of functions - this Senate made a recommendation that ferries and harbours need to be devolved to Mombasa County and wherever else that they might exist. It is high time that we implemented those resolutions of the Senate. I do wish that this Committee would have provided for us a robust framework of how that devolution or transition period will be managed. These are painful decisions that must be made by the national Government and all other people who are concerned in the implementation of this Constitution. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the battle in this country has been about resources. I have repeated this again. If the Governors or anybody else want to fly flags, they can fly a million of them if they so wish, but what we need is the resources in those counties. Devolution was not about escorts or flags for our Governors. It was about economic devolution. I think that we see it broadly today in the context of politics, that we are so comfortable with the plebiscite and jargon that goes with devolution without necessarily effecting the very elements of devolving resources. I can tell you that for as long as some of the issues are not resolved conclusively, the KPA will remain a central part of Mombasa politics and the economic and social strata of Mombasa’s society. As much as we might want to believe that we are a nation, as we so speak here, the truth here--- I recall once Sen. (Prof.) Anyang’-Nyong’o talking about the theory of the two publics. When you are on national platforms, you are the nationalist, but when you go home, you are the tribalist. So, we come here and urge each other to speak within these broad notions that are articulated in the Constitution, but when you go back to your counties or constituencies, you do exactly the opposite and incite your communities. I think it is more candid for those who come here and state the points as eloquently as the Senator for Kwale. He has nothing to hide because nothing he says is criminal or goes against the grain of this nation. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this nation is an amalgamation of interests. We are not a homogeneous nation. We are a nation that has tribes, religions, races, colours and every kind of manifestation. People negotiate those interests. It happens in the United States and any democracy. We were elected to protect those interests; be they the interests of Kwale, Mombasa, Samburu or anywhere else. So, it is wrong constantly for people to bring and present the very emotions of those counties, for us to play this national plebiscite that we are a nation so homogeneous and in love. Even elections are determined on the numerical strengths of people in various counties or this nation altogether. So, we have to be candid. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as Sen. Boy Juma Boy has indicated, for us it is a battle for the empowerment of our people and that is why I am sitting in this Senate and the people of Mombasa voted for us. We are here because our people want us to negotiate those interests; as insensitive and emotional as they might appear. You do not build the nation by cuddling and hugging. You build the nation by saying the truth. Even in your Christianity and our Islam we are told: “The truth shall set you free.” In Islam we are told: “Say it no matter how bitter it is.” The bitter truth is that this nation has not built 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."
}