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{
    "id": 610022,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/610022/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 174,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I have been consistent on the need to strengthen the Senate and devolution. Sometimes people confuse change of strategy from change of principle. I have been firm on the principle but I have a different strategy from my colleagues. Time has come that we must marry the two strategies together for us to achieve a common goal. This could be a grand opportunity for each one of us on both sides of the political divide to strike a deal that will ensure that our children and grandchildren, as you said in your contribution, will benefit from both devolution and a working strong Senate. Madam Temporary Speaker, as I almost conclude, I reiterate the intention of this House in ensuring that more money goes to the counties; we added Ksh7 billion and our intention was not for personal gain. In fact, the contradiction here is that the Majority Leader from the National Assembly, Hon. Duale, is a beneficiary of that allocation more than me because Garissa County which has a Level 5 hospital is getting money; on the other hand there is no Level 5 hospital in Elgeyo-Marakwet. It is a contradiction because the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee of the National Assembly, Rev. Mutava Musyimi, is a beneficiary of that money because Embu County where he comes from has an allocation for the Level 5 hospital, which is not there in Elgeyo- Marakwet County. Madam Temporary Speaker, that contradiction tells us that it is important for leaders of this great Republic to look at issues for the benefit of the people. So many people here have said that we are having a supremacy battle between us and the National Assembly; far from it. The truth is that the people who are being fought in this House are those who are having the interest of mwanachi at heart. The only punishment that we have received is that we have been sacrificed because we have the interest of mwananchi at heart. We have done so, so that the people of Garissa who are suffering from snake bites can get medicine in a Level 5 hospital in Garissa. That has now become an undoing. Those of us who do not come from places where Level 5 hospitals are situated should be punished for ensuring that those people at the local level get the resources they require. Madam Temporary Speaker, the message that we are sending to our brothers in the National Assembly is that the Senate does not mind suffering. I reiterate what I said in the morning; what Apostle Paul said: “That it is okay that I am suffering, it is good that my suffering will lead to the salvation of many.” Therefore, we may suffer for a moment but I think the salvation of Kenyans on matters devolution will be achieved if we stand firm as a House. That is why I am proud of this House. We stood firm when it comes to allocation of money, on matters of transfer of functions and on matters of oversight in the county. In fact, let me propose this; after this Budget period, my Committee is willing to go the extra mile to audit all functions that were transferred but are still being funded at the national level. That is a very critical and important exercise that we must carry out. We must ask ourselves how many roads which are devolved are still being done by the national Government. How many hospitals are still being run at the national level? Then, we table the report in this House and say “behold in the next financial year, we do not want to see item x, y or z in the national Government budgeting because that money is supposed to go to the counties.” 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."
}