Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 594182,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/594182/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 347,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "What is important is whether we will change the county governments, particularly governors and Members of County Assembly (MCAs), to appreciate the rule of law. Not just the rule of law but at the same time for them to understand that there is need for honesty in whatever each individual is doing. That is not only in the county governments, it is even here in the Senate; we have to be clean in our dealings. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, many things have happened, for instance, employment of county attorneys. If you bring a Motion to suspend a governor or discuss him, they go to the same court, and spend the same money; in fact, I do not think that a governor will accept to use his officer to defend him in any court of law. He would prefer to employ a private lawyer so that in the same act, there will be many underhand dealings. Therefore, it is important for the Senate to start looking at issues like the one we are discussing now. We know that devolution did not come just like a flower; it is a job to be done. It will take us several years before we are all convinced that it is here to stay. At the same time, the aim was to revolutionize our economy and also our politics, at least, to ensure that we all understand the rule of law and deal with what we do using the existing laws. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, my biggest question in this Bill is; where is the security of tenure for the person who will be appointed county attorney? If he has no security of office and is working under the governor, will he be more important than the clerk of the county government who is not followed by the governor and whom the governor does not care about? What makes us believe that we will find somebody who will be untouchable by the governor? Unless we have an office guaranteed that his removal will not just be an easy thing, even if you take the matter to the county assembly, they are the same people that we know. There should be 90 per cent of Members of the Count Assembly (MCAs) when they agree to remove him or not. This is because we are dealing with our brothers and sisters whom we have lived with and are still with us. We know that in this country what is taking us where we are economically and many other issues is not because the law is not existing, good fellows are not employed or that we do not have qualified people in this country. I do not know which country you can go to look for a qualified person that Kenya does not have today, after 52 years of Independence. Therefore, we have to all think beyond. Is it a discovery that we will now heal the wounds in county governments by having the County Attorney? He will be an officer like any other officer. I do not know when we shall think of trying to create offices there which are independent from the county government but answerable to the Senate. If there is such an avenue, I suggest that it is very important that we explore that avenue. That way, no officer shall be obligated to misbehave or commit an illegality just because the governor has directed him. Just now, put my friend here, the professor, a county attorney. How long will he sit to direct the governor? It is not easy. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have to look deep down and ask ourselves if we are doing the right thing. This is an attempt to do the right thing and nobody will criticize this move because it is important. The question is, will he deliver? We are here in this House and they will be employed by the end of the year or may be June next year but before the House is dissolved for the next General Election, you will hear how many Attorneys will have been suspended or thrown out of the county government. This is 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."
}