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{
    "id": 571370,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/571370/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 258,
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    "content": "with capacity building to ensure that money is availed to assist counties that are in dire need of facilities. Therefore, we are and have been ready to continue doing our job as a House. Many people have asked us what exactly a Senator does in terms of ensuring that there is a road, health facility or other things that change the lives of people in a county. They may not see. One of my constituents asked me that question when I was at a radio station last night. I told him that Senators are like wind. You cannot see wind neither does it have a colour but you know it is effect. If wind blew, you will see trees swaying and if it blows strongly, it can even clear an environment. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that is the same way you cannot put a finger as to exactly which road the Senator constructed or the health facility he or she bought medicine for. By sitting here, we defend, allocate resources and provide legislative framework to assist counties to work and ensure that they get enough resources. This Senate is in the situation that it is in because we stood firm and said counties must get resources. As a result of that, the Senator plays a role for the county outside the county so that those who sit in that county may use the funds allocated to make a difference in people’s lives. Therefore, we are a team and we have a collective responsibility to work closely with county assemblies. Let me speak to this issue of county assemblies. While in Tokyo during a trip to Japan, I read that some governors were complaining that enough resources had been given to county assemblies and that the autonomy of county assemblies was being secured by the Senate. The only governors who are complaining are those who have taken advantage of the weaknesses of county assemblies to misuse and steal public funds for personal gain. Every reasonable county has an executive member led by the governor who must warn themselves and appreciate that a strong county assembly means a strong executive. Truth be told, Kenyans need to be educated on the right position of the law. Development in the county is largely a responsibility of county assemblies. This is because they have this great responsibility of budgeting for the county. They are the ones who allocate money that goes to what project; they have the final say when it comes to the budget in the county; they pass county development plans and oversight the county executive to ensure that the money is used for the intended purpose. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we cannot weaken the county assemblies by giving them less resources and yet they do not have staff to assist them. It is because of a serious staff that this Parliament is what it is today and operates smoothly. We have staff who work in the legal and budget departments and Committee clerks who perform all the oversight work so that the Senate can table reports and hold the national and county governments and the National Assembly accountable. We must enable all county assemblies to have the capacity to perform their oversight role by hiring requisite staff, put in place enough infrastructure for committees to meet and have an office and staff for every MCA in their wards. When we do this, we 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."
}