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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, when you read this Report, you will find that the very first function that the Board has been given is to create a forum where the consultation and co- operation that is being referred to in Article 6 (2) of the Constitution is referring to. For this reason, it is important that we allow the amendment Bill to give effect even in clearer terms to Article 6 (2) of the Constitution of Kenya. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as far as Article 10 is concerned, I find that Article 10 (2), which refers to the national values and principles of governance, including patriotism and sharing of resources, indeed, will be the purpose of this Board. This is because the Board will remain vigilant to the need to ensure that development is shared equitably across the entire county. Mr. Speaker, Sir, finally, Article 10 (2) (b) refers to the need to have equity, social justice and inclusiveness. It is quite possible that unless some form of guidance is given to the Governors plus the County Executive Committees (CEC), they can run rogue and lock out one part of the county or communities that exist in the county. This is not in theory. If you go to Siaya County which neighbours Kakamega County, you will find that in Siaya, there is a ward called Bukhuyi. In Bukhuyi, there are members of the minority community in Siaya called the Abaluhya. So, unless you have a forum, those people can very easily be locked out of development in the entire five years and they will have nowhere to go to. But when the sitting Member of Parliament sits in this Board that is chaired by the Senator, then the local ward representative, through either the leader of the minority or leader of the majority, will send their agenda and complaints; that such and such a project should be considered in their particular ward. This also applies to a section in Kakamega, mainly Luanda-Doho and Luanda-Dudi, where we also have the minority Luo community leaving in Kakamega County, and they need this kind of protection. Mr. Speaker, Sir, referring to the Constitution again, I find that this amendment flows out of Article 174, which refers to the objects of devolution. It says that the objects of the devolution of government are, amongst other things, to promote democratic and accountable exercise of power. We would like this forum to ensure that when we are seated, we are convinced that the Governor and his CEC is actually exercising power democratically and in an accountable way. It is also supposed to foster national unity by recognizing diversity. It is only through this forum that the Senator will insist that the diversity within a county is recognized by ensuring that every group is also enjoying the development that will be drawn from the resources that go to our counties. Thirdly, it is an object of devolution to recognize the right of communities to manage their own affairs and further their development. In an area where clanism or ethnicity was a factor during the campaigns and where a particular Governor who comes from the majority community got an overwhelming win, it is quite possible that a Governor of this type can choose to completely ignore the other minority communities. Therefore, this will force such a 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."
}