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{
    "id": 518096,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/518096/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 434,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mwaura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13129,
        "legal_name": "Isaac Maigua Mwaura",
        "slug": "isaac-mwaura"
    },
    "content": "with that because the ambiguity of the definition of “urban area” may be positional. What would constitute an urban area? Is it a more developed area of the county? Even if it were to be so, the import of devolution would be, if it were possible, to ensure that you do not cause further marginalisation by empowering already developed areas within the county. So the sovereign will of the people to determine where their headquarters is must be upheld. In fact, as it has been observed by earlier hon. Members who have spoken, this list that is being presented to this august House is not a subject of public participation. In fact, further than that, it is very clear that some of the interests may have been entrenched by the fact that some Senators may have suggested them. I want to say that yes, we can as a matter of fact, locate the headquarters of a country within a statute but now that we would want to locate headquarters of counties, in my opinion, that is over-legislating. Two, there is obviously the question of the fact that some of the towns that are being suggested to be permanent headquarters of counties do not have even room for expansion. A very good example is our nearby county, Kiambu. If you look at Kiambu Town, it is a one street town. There is no room for expansion because it is surrounded by many coffee estates that are of private enterprise. A town like Thika has served the purpose so far. Of course, there have been questions and disagreements in that regard. Sometimes if you look at the location of some of these county headquarters, they were picked because of their proximity to some major infrastructural projects without necessarily looking at the centrality of that county therefore disadvantaging some people who have to come from very far to access the services. In the interest of time, I wish to support the recommendation of the Committee and implore this House to allow members of the various counties, in the spirit of devolution, decentralisation and equitable distribution of development, to agree with the Committee. I rise to support."
}