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"content": "support that amendment. We hope that there will be no opposition for the amendment. We are not talking so that we show that the Senate must change something. We are saying that, perhaps, this was an omission when it was brought to us. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is true that the way the Bill has emerged this year, was a negotiated position, but let us also be clear that the negotiation process involved this House. To people out there, and to Kenyans out there in general, what they know is that the Senate Leader of Majority was involved in that negotiation. They know that the Chairman of the Committee on Devolution was involved. I also believe that the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Commerce and Budget was also involved. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we disagree here, it is important that we show that we respect the leadership of the House. It is important that we go out there and show one side of the Senate. This is a House that has devolved the reputation that we can fight our battles in here, but we have consistently gone out there with one position in mind. We have consistently shown collective responsibility as far as the Senate is concerned. Therefore, I urge my colleagues as much we may have wanted higher figures, let us accept that Kshs226 billion is the figure that our own people, the National Assembly and the Executive, have arrived at. We would have wanted more, that is the clear message. Next year, we intend to negotiate for more. Having agreed on that figure, let us go ahead and vote “yes”, but with amendment. The 78 per cent of the money that we expect to collect will be in the hands of the national government. Therefore, I would urge, just like the Government came up with a stimulus package at the constituency level, let them come with a stimulus package at the county level. Let us ask ourselves some very serious questions. Let us ask what is it in Turkana that we can do to create economic impetus or economic growth by starting one project identified by the people of that county. That is one project that the national government can support over and above what we have been given that is going to be a stimulus in the growth of Turkana. Let us ask ourselves what is it that we can start in Kakamega County? Should it be that Kakamega County has two of the most fantastic polytechnics in Kenya? Consequently, should we stimulate the growth of those polytechnics to the extent that people will come from South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania to attend polytechnic training in Kakamega? Should it be that the Nyeri County can be supported to start the packing of tea and coffee so that instead of our tea being sold in Japan or our coffee being packed in England, it is actually packed here in Kenya, creating jobs to the extent that there will be job opportunities in Nyeri County. We should have colleagues from as far as Kisumu County coming to work in Nyeri due to job opportunities. So, could the Government come up with a stimulus package for our nation, based on county to county needs? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the last celebrations for Mandera County, the Senator told us that the citizens said that for the first time in the history of this nation, they felt represented and part of Kenya. We are fortunate to have lived to the day when even marginalized societies have accepted that they are part of Kenya by virtue of the fact that Kenya has a devolved government. Let us not forget that by the end of the day we are a devolved system and not a federal system. Therefore, there are still going to a lot of issues that will be handled by the central Government. Hopefully, as the years go by, we 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."
}