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{
"id": 484098,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/484098/?format=api",
"text_counter": 199,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "August 15, 2014 SENATE DEBATES 33 Sen. (Dr.) Zani",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As Sen. Murkomen said, when devolution came to the counties, there was a real promise, especially from the common citizen, that there would be a difference about the way we do things; and that devolution will not be about power and power struggles between various people at various levels within the counties. It was expected as a result that social, economic and cultural development would actually take place. Therefore, we have to put into context this impeachment. For the other impeachments, the socio-cultural implications have not really been there. But for this particular impeachment, the subjective nature of the charges makes it very mandatory for us to relook at the scenario and the context of this particular impeachment. Mr. Speaker, Sir, these impeachment proceedings started with a meeting that was called at the Machakos County for the County Executive Committee (CEC) Members and in a seemingly usual meeting, suddenly, the issue became something else. In that particular meeting, the Deputy Governor, who was present at that meeting, raised an issue about his security, and all this has been very well explained in the affidavits. Upon raising that specific issue about his security, the next thing is that the agenda was changed so that it was his conduct that was going to be discussed and he was requested to leave the room. The next thing we have is a series of affidavits; therefore, this impeachment actually started with the Cabinet and not with the County Assembly, even though it ended with the County Assembly. After the resolution that was made from the County Assembly to proceed with this impeachment, then from there, the Deputy Governor was actually impeached and his case, therefore, came to us as the Special Committee. Mr. Speaker, Sir, one of the things that came out at that particular meeting was that an issue arose about the criminal records. It was clearly seen from the evidence that we have that a particular case that was put into place – that he actually had a criminal case – was finally dismissed. From that point onwards, a letter was written by the County Secretary (CS) for the Deputy Governor to appear in that particular committee that had been set up. By the 9th of July, the Speaker of Machakos County Assembly received notice of a Motion to remove the Deputy Governor by impeachment. On 11th July, a letter was given to the Deputy Governor to appear before the ad hoc Committee. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is paramount to indicate here that the Deputy Governor, one, was not given sufficient time so that he could actually go to the County Assembly and defend himself and, therefore, the final view that was presented by the County Assembly does not include the input from the Deputy Governor at that particular point. Everything happened so fast and it was almost impossible for the Deputy Governor to really catch up with the process and defend himself. On the 23rd of July, the Motion for impeachment was raised. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is very clear that when somebody reads through all these affidavits – which have been mentioned already – that they are very common in content and similarity to the point that they were all written and pre-thought at the same time is very evident; and that became very evident even as we met during the meeting. This whole issue raises a real important aspect for us to look at in terms of the relationship between the Governors and the Deputy Governors. It has already been alluded to that in most of the counties, if you ask what the Deputy Governors are really doing, it is almost 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."
}