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{
    "id": 635117,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/635117/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 112,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, as I was saying, many governors know that if you get a bright Senator like Sen. Billow to make a presentation in that conference, they are likely to point out the real issues that are affecting devolution. Most of them are uncomfortable with facts, truth and the fact that we will point out matters particularly related to oversight. Therefore, it is not possible for us to continue going to a conference where the objective is basically to add to the numbers so that people can use us for either fundraising or colouring their conference. It is also important to inform the Chairman of the Committee on Devolved Government, that the fact that one member of the organizing committee of the conference is dragging all of them to Meru – Meru is not a bad place, it is a wonderful county – is already an indication of who calls the shots. It is important if this conference as was suggested last year will be considered to be equal for all of us, there should be a committee working on the functions of county assemblies, another one on the issues that deputy governors want to raise, another one on issues of the Senate and another one for governors. Already, even the adverts in the newspapers are already pointing to the fact that it is a conference of governors. Madam Temporary Speaker, unless that is restored; that we are discussing devolution, not individuals – if you saw what happened in Kisumu, bill boards were erected bearing names of governors and pamphlets praising individuals were distributed - we are going in the wrong direction on matters of devolution. So, I agree with the Senate Majority and Minority leaders that until sanity is restored in the process – we own the process not just the product – so that when we reach that conference, there is an equal status that is enjoyed by county assemblies, Senators, deputy governors and governors so that no one of them will be lording it over the others. It is only then that we can say it is a devolution conference; particularly when we are talking about the third year where the Constitution referred to the transition period being three years. This is the true year for us to look back and ask ourselves, “in the three years of transition, what have we done on matters of devolution?” What is the contribution of which sector and institution? We need to make that a conference that is worthy."
}