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{
    "id": 592395,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/592395/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 177,
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    "content": "Secondly, I would like to talk about appointments to public offices. Last month, we visited Moscow as the Senate Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations. We learnt that the Federation Council of Russia is involved in the appointment of public officers at that high level. It is important for this Senate to be involved in this activity because that is the practice worldwide. If the Senate is denied this opportunity, it is sad. For example, it is important that the appointment of the Cabinet Secretary be brought to this Senate. We need to appoint people who are conversant with issues of the county and the aspect of devolution. If the Senate is denied this opportunity, then in future we might not get the right people to spear-head the principle of devolution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are so many other aspects that we need to look at in terms of appointment to these senior positions. It is time the Senate is given this responsibility to do this, alongside the National Assembly. Thirdly, we want to look at the issue of the welfare of the Senate and the county assemblies. This is important because from practice, having done almost five years in the implementation of the Constitution, of course, there are gaps which need to be looked into. Concerning the welfare of the Senate, we have tried to pass several proposals and policies in this House but unfortunately our hands are tied because of the provision of the Constitution. It is time that the independence of the Senate is guaranteed so that we have our own commission in this Parliament. In addition, there are issues of welfare in the county assemblies. Nobody knows what happens to them. They do not have a welfare system. This will bring crises, for example, what we have experienced from retired councilors who brought a petition before this House. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are good at creating institutions but it is important for us to look at how these institutions operate and their welfare. Fourthly, the removal of the governor, the deputy governor and the relationship between them should be looked at. We had an experience of impeaching Gov. Wambora. Unfortunately, after having gone through that process, he is still in office. This is against the constitutional provisions and the wishes of Kenyans who vote in these individuals and also their right to remove them. In terms of the relationship between the governor and his deputy, there are many problems. For example, from the experience of Gov. Wambora and his deputy, there were many challenges. This needs to be ironed out. Another example is the case before the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights where after efforts to impeach the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kiala, failed, the Governor has refused to allocate him responsibility. There is a lot harassment which is coming out of that. This is an area that we need to look into. If we want to retain those offices and for them to properly serve Kenyans, these issues need to be ironed out. We are wasting taxpayers’ money due to the wrangles in those counties. It is important for the office bearers to work together amicably for the benefit of those counties. Also, I want to speak to the treaties and conventions that are being established. There are several treaties and conventions that are ratified in this country. Most of them affect counties. Before ratification the counties are not involved in contributing to them. This has to be corrected because without input of the counties to point out the areas in which they will be affected by these treaties and conventions; there will be a dilemma which will affect the counties seriously. 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."
}