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{
    "id": 571383,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/571383/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 271,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "discussing the Division of Revenue Bill, there was an attempt to include a few counties where there was a feeling that they did not posses adequate infrastructure and provide certain funds for them. On hindsight, I think it was a good decision that this Senate made to shoot down that amendment. If you recall the acrimony that followed the Division of Revenue Bill that was passed by this Senate, probably these counties that lacked headquarters would have fallen victim to the usual infighting that has characterized the relationship between the Senate and the National Assembly and the commentators out there in the media. It was a good thing that this particular matter lived to see another day. I support this Motion and the amendment to the Motion. By bringing in Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo and Sen. Obure, these are two Kenyans who have offered a lot of service to this country and they have a lot of institutional memory. I believe that they are going to add value to this Select Committee. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, our counties are at different levels. All of them were given Kshs61.5 million by the Transition Authority (TA). This is one area that we need to agree on as the Senate; how we will get to the bottom of how the Kshs61.5 million was utilised. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am informed that there is a court ruling that bars this Senate from scrutinising the expenditure of Kshs61.9 million because that came from the TA. All indications are that the money, probably, was not used in the best interest of counties that were supposed to benefit from it. Whereas some counties inherited fairly good structures, there are others like Nyandarua, Tharaka-Nithi and Lamu where things are not still very good. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I visited Lamu County and found the Governor sitting in a rented office. It was not too shabby but rented. That means that the Governor is at the mercy of the landlord who could decide to increase rates or evict him at any point in time. Government institutions need a permanent address. They need an address where people could get to even with eyes closed. That is why I support that all counties need to have a good and permanent address even if they are not very flashy and lofty. There are certain counties including the county that I represent, Homa Bay County, that have gone ahead to acquire land for construction of new county headquarters. There are certain counties that have gone ahead and purchased very opulent mansions and bungalows for their governors. The story of Kilifi County is still very fresh. The county spent about Kshs140 million to purchase a beachfront house for the Governor. That reminds us of the words of one envoy who said that there are certain people who eat so much that they vomit on the shoes of others. When a county spends Kshs140 million to buy a palatial house for the Governor yet another county operates from a rented premise or shabby tents, that tells us that there is some disparity that this Senate needs to come in and cure. One of the things governors said was that there are no guidelines. Therefore, there is nothing that stops them from spending Kshs200 million or Kshs400 million in buying a mansion for a governor. 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."
}