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{
    "id": 481451,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/481451/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 176,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Melly",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1099,
        "legal_name": "Isaac Kipkemboi Melly",
        "slug": "isaac-kipkemboi-melly"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to make my contribution to this Bill and also to thank the Senator for Kakamega, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, for bringing this Bill. First, the principle of accountability does not apply to only one section of people. It cuts across every leader, whether you are a Governor, Senator, MCA, Member of Parliament or CEC. All of them remain accountable with regard to public money. Secondly, this should be very clear to governors that we are not in the process of witch hunting. A number of times, we have heard governors saying that the Senate is killing devolution. A number of times, this has been said in meetings and through newspapers. They say that Senators are killing devolution. When the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC) summons a governor to answer a question or queries regarding expenditure of money, do we say that the Senate Committee is trying to kill devolution? In any case, when a governor is called before the Committee to answer queries that means that the Senate is protecting the money that goes to the counties. Devolution means that we devolve money to the grassroots level. That is to that person who cannot access a good road, clean water and education. We want that money to go down there. When a committee of this House tries to investigate and to raise questions concerning the expenditure, governors use the media to say that the Senate is killing devolution. Where is the fear in governors coming from? Why is it that when governors are summoned, they fear turning up at the Committee proceedings? If they have spent the money in accordance with the law or if all the money has been spent very well and no single coin was lost, why should they fear facing the Committee to say how they spent it? I think there is something they are hiding. It is high time that we passed this Motion and ensured that the governors remain accountable. They should account to the last shilling. Article 96(3) gives powers to this Senate to oversight over revenue allocated to counties. Any county that does not comply or honour the summons from the Senate CPAIC should not get a second allocation unless they account to the last shilling. This House should not allow money to go to such a county. Governors must account for all the money to the last shilling if they still want to remain in office. People fail to understand that governors and even Senators will not be in office forever. One day, some of us will be governors. Probably, in future, some governors will be Senators. We are trying to address an issue that should be dealt with once and for all. Whether you are a governor or a Senator, you remain accountable and you do your job according to the Constitution. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, Sir, under what 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."
}