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    "id": 518562,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/518562/?format=api",
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    "content": "Secondly, it demonstrates to me the frustrations that maybe those MCAs – in this case three of them – are expressing. It makes a lot of sense when they realized that they have another authority higher than them that they can petition. All of us also know the history of the institutions of governors and the Senate in particular. So, we must demonstrate a lot of sympathy and empathy to the MCAs. When you look at this particular Petition, it is really comprehensive. It basically touches on each and every issue that a county must be performing. I do not want to draw conclusion. However, I want to explain that when you have a breakdown in the appellate processes or institutions that should be dealing with matters---. This is the reason you start witnessing situations like in Narok and counties whose leaders are not meeting. That will just lead to anarchy, breakdown of law and order. Therefore, if there is something that at least the Senate can do in order to forestall such situations, like convening a governance organ, it is important for us to make the necessary intervention so that things do not reach such a level that they turn ugly and brutish. Literally, people lose lives. In fact, I expected somebody even to ask about cases where everytime we have a demonstration somewhere and the police shoot some people dead. Why should people lose lives just because they are demonstrating? The police should use rubber bullets if need be or rather, other ways. We do not want to reach that situation. The Petition is perfectly in order. The Senator himself feels frustrated as well, because the Petition says:- “Efforts by leaders from the county led by the area Senator to dialogue and find ways of remedying the situation have not borne much fruit.” That is the Senator himself speaking, in addition to the MCAs. We are also told in 12:- “The county government has failed to prepare an annual financial report and forward it to the Auditor-General, Controller of Budget, Commission of Revenue Allocation and the County Assembly in contravention of Sections 163, 164, 165 and 166 of the Public Finance Management Act.” These are weighty issues. While I appreciate the caution that you are giving to the House; that it is important – just for sheer logistics and time management – that not every issue should be thrown to the Senate. So, if there is a possibility of that, then we can allow the Committee to make such recommendations. But in terms of the right of every person to come to Parliament, that right is theirs and they are entitled to it. It is our job to ensure that they exercise it. Regarding Sen. Wetangula’s point of calling institutions of governance together to dialogue in order to remedy these kinds of situations, it is always welcome. The Senate, as one such institution, has distinguished itself in promoting dialogue and good governance. We will pursue the issue. However, the major issue was whether the MCAs can petition the House. The answer is that they can. They have been doing so, and we will encourage them, in the words of Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr., to continue bringing their petitions."
}