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{
    "id": 491501,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/491501/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 121,
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    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to the Speaker of Makueni, if there was a law that explained how Speakers must manage county assemblies, probably, what happened would not have taken place. The Speaker would have given a better venue and told people that the County Assembly Chamber is the assembly. Therefore, if they wanted to hold a meeting for all stakeholders, then they needed to do it outside the precincts. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we, as a Senate, are saying it is time that we respected the institutions that we are in. County Assemblies are critical institutions in the country. As much as the Governors run around, without the county assemblies, they cannot claim to be in Government. They need the assemblies to guide them and to give them laws that can help them to implement their issues. As we move forward as the Senate, we want to see sobriety in all MCAs. As we give them privileges, we believe that they will also respect the fact that they have to sit and agree on matters regarding resources. They must sit and agree on what they can manage as an assembly and on what they can use. The rest of the money must go to their respective wards for developments. It is wrong, as we move around, for county assemblies to continue to fight with the executive because of resources. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you want to give somebody power to do his work, you must also look at the resources you are giving them to do the work. It is the mandate of this Senate to ensure that we put in ceilings for the assemblies and for the Governors. Did we do this in a way that made it unfair to one side? Did we give justice to the country by giving resources, but at the same time, prevented the assemblies to participate and to do their work as required? This is something we, as a Senate, need to look into. We need to bring in a report to this Senate to show what happens after we have set up ceilings. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the County Powers and Privileges Bill we are talking about in this Senate will help county assemblies to enjoy the same privileges enjoyed by both the National Assembly and the Senate. However, that does not mean that we do not respect our institutions because we do enjoy those privileges. Therefore, we hope and believe that they will respect the institutions and take up legislation with seriousness. I hope that they will not take advantage and misuse what we have given them. We do not want to hear some years down the line, a county starts crying to the Senate on why we passed a Bill that has not helped their MCAs to bring order in their assemblies, but hooliganism. As I support, I urge the Speakers of the county assemblies to adhere to the rule of law. We, as the Senate, will ensure that we have legislation that can give them guidance in how they manage and run their Houses. I beg to support."
}