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{
    "id": 571333,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/571333/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 221,
    "type": "other",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "what is done today is not done in the spirit of transition like the Transition Authority (TA) was doing and it was right to do so. However, as the founding Senate for devolved governments, we should lay a firm foundation for devolved governance primarily in terms of two institutions; the Legislature and the Executive. I know that we are concerned about the Legislature. However, nothing stops us from also making overtures on what needs to be done in terms of premises for the Executive because the two, in any case, work together. I know that there are certain counties where people are already thinking of how to structure their capitals. By capital, I mean that you have premises for the Executive on one side and the Legislature on another. It is possible for people to begin spending extravagantly because in this country, we have got a terrible disease called “tenderpreneurs”. “Tenderpreneurs” are people who look for every or any tender across the nation and try to inflate it as much as possible so that everybody is taken care of. When they do that, capital projects end up costing too much. Before we let counties catch the disease of “tenderpreneurs”, it will be good for the Senate to come up with concept models. We can go ahead to contract some firms to come up with a good proposal that can be sold to the counties. If we come up with a good proposal, we can discuss it with the Council of Governors (CoG), the County Assembly Speakers Forum if there is something like that and the Caucus of Deputy Governors. We should meet all nationally organised bodies that relate to the governance of counties so that what we propose is not imposed on counties. It should be a proposal that should win the support of these bodies; the CoG, the Council of Deputy Governors, the Panel of Speakers, among others, so that we defend and promote the interests of counties that we represent. Lastly, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in future – not just today – counties should communicate with the Senate in a much more structured manner. There should be linkages between the Senate and the counties, especially in the ICT highway. What happens in any county in terms of its debates or discussion should be easily available to Senators within the Senate premises or somewhere as it happens live. As we construct new premises, let us do so thinking of the future and taking serious consideration of the role that ICT plays in governance. When structures are built, they should be built with the intention to link them with others to make devolved governance modern. At the moment, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will assure you that the makeshift structures that I have seen in county assemblies are not different from the Local Government structures that were there before. Therefore, this will bog down county assemblies with some running themselves using old ways of doing things and not responding to the benefits that would come from adopting the ICT age that makes accountability, transparency and good governance much easier than before. With those few remarks, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to fully support and second this Motion by colleague, Sen. (Eng.) Sen. (Eng.) Muriuki. It is both timely and important. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to second. 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."
}