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{
    "id": 439041,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/439041/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 269,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Two, you will also note with a lot of concern what the Governors are now doing. They are spending the money that is supposed to be used for development to come up with infrastructure or buildings for themselves and for their officers. Some have gone further to buy luxurious homes, like the one we saw the other day in Kilifi. Instead of spending money to touch the lives of people, he is thinking about himself. I find it strange the way Kenyans work. When the Government gave money to the Ministry of Public Works, we went round and came up with the prototypes of what was supposed to be done. We assembled the old county councils and the municipal county councils so that they could be reshaped. Funds were set aside and benchmarking was done in some of the countries in the world which have county governments in place. However, at the time of giving out this money, the civil society erupted and some of the Commissions told us that we should not go ahead to identify places since no governors were in place. They have now stopped talking because of the scenarios that have emerged. The money that was supposed to bring water, electricity and improve the education systems in our counties is now being used for other things. We learned with concern that Taita Taveta wanted to identify the middle of Taita Taveta to have its headquarters there. Tharaka-Nithi went a notch higher and said that it had to measure the middle ground between the Tharaka people and the Nithi people so that none of their land goes elsewhere. We heard things we had not heard about before. Sen. G.G. Kariuki is here. He knows that we had an Assistant Minister, hon. Kiunjuri, who did not want Nanyuki to be the headquarters of his county. Some wanted the headquarters in Muthara while some wanted Rumuruti. There was trouble there. Baringo County did not want Kabarnet. They wanted Marigat and politics were in play. People were saying that whoever won to bring the headquarters nearest to their homes would get more votes. We are now discussing this at the right time. We should identify, appropriately where these headquarters should be. I know that Sen. G.G. Kariuki has not also made up his mind about Nanyuki. We need to think about provision of services. The services are already close to some urban areas. It is very expensive to attempt to think that we can build other headquarters. For example, in Kapenguria, we have some places where there is tarmac, water and other amenities. If we attempt to go further in the bush, a lot of money will be spent. As we put this in place, we should also start thinking about the original plan of devolution. When we are devolving, we are supposed to be devolving a version of Nairobi Headquarters to the counties. How does the Governor, for instance, of Kisumu, West Pokot or Turkana have buildings which are totality different from others? The situation seems as if we did not plan. It now depends on who can support the other one. I fully support this idea. As we go into this idea, we should ask Governors to see that land that is set aside in urban areas is properly planned. I have seen some of the county governments planting buildings at every space that is supposed to be utilized in future for other projects. It would be easier to come up with a storied building than planting several buildings where the headquarters for the Ministry of Agriculture is different from the one of Ministry of Lands. I support Sen. Khalwale and support this Motion fully. 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."
}