{"id":584312,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/584312/?format=json","text_counter":320,"type":"other","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"others are not able to sit in the Senate, to speak to issues of accountability and oversight through a petition. Therefore, this procedure then necessitates the clerk and the county assembly to consider that petition. I agree to that point where, once this petition is considered, what next? I believe this quotation will be able, whenever a petition is considered, to give authoritative recommendations that shall guide and direct certain actions to be taken, interventions of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), interventions of the police and interdiction of officers in the course of investigations. Therefore, we must also assume powers broadly that are necessary for county assemblies to summon any officer, information and public evidence of a broad nature so that it can facilitate them to discharge their functions under this law. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, these days, I have decided at every opportunity to demonstrate and talk about Article 174 of the Constitution which principally talks about objects of devolution. Very few of us talk about objects of devolution. We sing the plebiscites of devolution but hardly try to internalize why devolution is there. Article 174 of the Constitution states:- “The objects of the devolution of government are— (a) to promote democratic and accountable exercise of power;” This petition allows that exercise of democratic and accountable exercise of power by capacitating respective citizens of various counties to petition their county assemblies on a wide array of issues. Therefore, this will also stop that overload on the Senate so that some of these matters can be dispensed at that level. However, I agree with Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale by saying that nothing in this law must preempt the possibility of anybody else seeking further resolution of the Senate on any matter. We realise that many county assemblies as currently constituted are under the whims of county governors and executives. Therefore, it might be difficult to navigate against certain petitions that are of a weighty nature. Only the gravitas of the Senate can conclusively speak on some of those issues. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the same objects of devolution in Article 174(c) says:- “to give powers of self-governance to the people and enhance the participation of the people in the exercise of the powers of the State and in making decisions affecting them” Therefore, it gives the citizens an opportunity to be part and parcel of decision making because a petition can be a petition as to whether there were enough consultations before any project of the county government was undertaken. This petition is broad in terms of giving citizens of counties an actual avenue to participate in their democracy. Not all of us can be in the Senate or at the county assemblies at the same time but we are giving the citizens a direct role of participation in the proceedings of these Houses. Once you present your petition, as a member who has presented it, then you will enjoy certain privileges and rights to speak before these committees of the county assembly and present evidence before them. Where necessary, you will cross-examine evidence which is presented by those who you seek their accountability. Therefore, this Bill is a flagship. One of the hallmarks of this Senate is how it needs to distinguish itself. 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."}