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{
    "id": 474026,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/474026/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 241,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "government at the local level that cannot be accessed and does not allow public participation; it does not allow people to ask questions about transparency and accountability. The reason we must increase the money that goes to development is so that we can do away with those people who are hanging around the Governor. There will not be enough money to have largesse and feel good, because the money will have gone to development. Madam Temporary Speaker, there is something that pains me. The level of participation of the people in the development of their counties is almost zero across the country. The development of the county has been personified and become privatized. So, two or three people are busy and know whom they are going to give the contracts and what they are going to do with that contract. There is a lot of corruption, kickbacks and so forth. We must save our counties from these elites’ capture, lords of corruption and brokers, taking charge of our counties. I have contemplated that it is important for us, either as individual Senators from our countries or a House, to come up with a tool of accountability in the county. Such a tool will have the following questions: How many development projects have been put up in the county? How are they spread out in the county? What is the worth of that development project in every ward, for example? How many people have been hired in a particular county? How is it spread across the wards? What is the position of marginalized groups and communities? By this, we can achieve more transparency. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is important for that tool, for example, to have the provisions that will say how many contracts have been awarded in the county, who was awarded that contract, how many of them were youth and how they are spread. I am saying this on the Floor of this House because I am determined not to wait for this Senate even to provide that tool, but to write my own tool with those questions, submit to the Governor of Elgeyo-Marakwet County and demand an answer within one month. This will enable me to know how many contracts have been given to the indigenous youth who have suffered for many years in Elgeyo-Marakwet. I will also know how many new women are being given opportunity to do business in the county and what the county is doing to move women from being “ mama mboga” to “ mama development”, “ mama contractor” and “ mama supplier.” It pains me to know that the person who was doing this road is the same person who is doing it in Siaya, Homa Bay and even a road that could have been done by a group of youth in that county. We must ensure that transparency and accountability is achieved in our counties if we must get development. This can be done. Madam Temporary Speaker, I am going to do that letter to Elgeyo-Marakwet County. If they do not respond within one month, Article 35 of the Constitution gives me the right of access to information. That is the time now that I will do another letter that will compel them to bring that information. If we do not do that, this money will not make sense. If a Senator does not know the kind of development that is happening in his county, how much worse will it be for that person in the village that never went to 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."
}