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{
    "id": 669374,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/669374/?format=api",
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    "content": "they issued a statement immediately. My worry is that they doing the same thing that they did with the courts to actually circumvent appearances and justice. A lot of monies go to the counties and it is our responsibility, under Article 96 of the Constitution, to oversight them. We are not requesting the governors to appear before the Committee; it is their responsibility. Article 10 of the Constitution talks about the national values and principles of governance, and transparency and accountability are quite clear. The governors must, therefore, appear before the Committees. Allow me to congratulate the Governor of Nairobi City County because despite the letter written by the CoGs, he actually appeared before the Committee. I do not know why we should have any other governor quote that letter. Today we were meant to meet the Governor of Murang’a and the Governor of Samburu, but they did not show up on frivolous grounds. We have had governors use all manner of excuses against this Committee. In fact, one governor is on record saying that he is not a tourist attraction to be looked at by the Senators. Those are the challenges we are dealing with, but we have upheld the integrity of our Committee and the House. This is because we realize that this country is bigger than all of us. The monies that go to the counties are not personal change. In fact, it is people’s taxes that they pay very painfully. We should, therefore, see actual development. Having scrutinized reports of 47 county governments and 47 county assemblies, I can assure you that there is a lot of mess. In fact, in one county the governor’s wife is on a salary of Kshs500,000 to actually make tea and coffee. We deal with such things everyday. The governors will use every avenue to make sure that such issues are not brought to the fore, but we will not allow it. The Auditor-General has done his work. Already the 2014/2015 reports are out and we are working round the clock, as a Committee, to actually finish our work. Therefore, we hope that they will honour the summons for those who have not appeared. If they do not appear, we will petition the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to actually take action against governors violating the Constitution. The law will take its course. We are behind schedule, but I can assure this House that we are working round the clock. If someone does not clarify an audit query, it goes without saying it will be confirmed. We, as a Committee, must do that and produce a report, because it is our responsibility to actually report to this House. If we do not do so, people will wonder what we have been doing. I congratulate the Speaker for that ruling and hope that the CoGs is watching. They know that we expect them to honour the invitations; it is not a request. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."
}