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{
    "id": 606254,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/606254/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 82,
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    "content": "comes to check where wrongs have been committed. It is a continuous process that requires funding. The public may have been misled to believe that the Kshs1 billion was going to remunerate the Senators and be part of their salaries. We want to make it clear that it was never meant for Senators as individuals or to add to their salaries. It was meant to strengthen the office of the Senator, so that the office of the Senator in the counties and the Senate itself here has adequate resources including personnel to assist in ensuring oversight. The stories that we hear now from the counties, and even the Governors themselves agree, are that there are certain things that are happening that are not correct. There is rampant misallocation of funds, wastage and outright theft. The Senators as well as some Governors have lamented against their county executive members and many others. The county assemblies are expecting the Senate--- I, as the Senator for Trans-Nzoia County, is expected to get involved in what is happening in the hospitals where drugs and facilities are not adequate. I must be able to find out what is happening and explain to the people. The people expect that because they know that I do oversight. However, the resources that I am supposed to use are not there. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we also wanted to be involved in the county affairs by way of county development, but that route was also blocked. As you are aware, Senators cannot call a meeting to discuss development in the county. We have an injunction from the court and therefore, we cannot perform that function. The Senate is under attack. The Senate has been very patient and abided by the rule of law and respected other institutions. Even as we were elected, everybody knew that the Senate was the “Upper House” and that the Senator was elected by more people than any other Member of the National Assembly. The Senate represents a wider area. Even in a school, the headmaster cannot be equated to an ordinary teacher; at least he even gets a responsibility allowance, and Sen. Karaba knows that. However, we were all made equal; the Senator and the Members of the National Assembly. Perhaps, that is what has led them to believe that after all, we do not matter anywhere. However, we were patient in the spirit of patriotism to say that we came here to serve and we did not push the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). I believe that the SRC has noticed that there are people who are not for equity and justice. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, regarding the issue of the courts, we impeached a Governor and we have the other case in court on the county development boards but we have been patient because we respect institutions and we have not attacked the Judiciary merely because they have not done what we wished and in the time we wanted them to. On the issue of Constituencies Development Fund (CDF), there was a time that the National Assembly believed that we, as the Senate, were against it. There were also talks that we were part in the CDF case. However, the Senate was restrained and we never went to court. It is other parties which went to court and the final decision by the court was not a decision made by the Senate. We were not party to it because we recognized CDF in a way as a system in the constituency although with devolution, there was a question mark. However, since the courts have now decided that CDF 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."
}