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{
    "id": 489869,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/489869/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 131,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kembi-Gitura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 242,
        "legal_name": "James Kembi Gitura",
        "slug": "kembi-gitura"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Motion. The issue of accountability by the county governments - and I have said this in the past - is not negotiable. They have to account for the money that is coming from the national government, which is taxpayers’ money that is going down to them. I am on record as having said that the amount of money going to the counties may appear to be a lot because it is in billions. But if you take into account that a county like Murang’a with 1.2 million people and Kshs4.6 billion is devolved to that number of people, then we realise the need for prudence in the spending of this money. Therefore, when the Senate asks for accountability because that is our prime duty under the Constitution, nobody should take it as if it is something personal, a personal pursuit or vendetta because this has to be done. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am happy that people have started to realize the difference between an individual Senator and the Senate as an institution. When we sat here not so long ago and debated whether or not to stop the funding to four counties, including my own county of Murang’a, the debate that went around in the country was big. The Governors, of course, said – and wrongly – that we, as Senators from those four counties failed to defend them in the Senate or before the Committee. That is a fallacy because the moment that we dealt the way we dealt, we were dealing in our collegial capacity as the institution of the Senate. It was wrong – and I dare repeat it – it was very wrong indeed for the Governors of the four counties to point fingers at us and say that we negated our responsibility. I am going to say it again; that the accountability that is sought under the Constitution is mandatory and it has to be done, whether it is in Murang’a County that I represent or in any other of the 47 counties in this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also believe that we have an individual duty and capacity as Senators; that I have a right as the Senator for Murang’a to want to know certain things that are happening there and also ask for accountability directly. If it does not come through, then I have a right at that moment to refer it to Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale’s Public 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."
}