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{
    "id": 669376,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/669376/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 135,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "June 30, 2016 SENATE DEBATES 29 Sen. Lesuuda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to congratulate the Speaker for this communication. It is sad that four years down the line since we started implementing this Constitution, there are governors who have just decided to clearly dismiss the work of the Senate. They do this both outside and even under our mandate as an institution. The role of every elected leader in representing their people is expressly clear. It is clear what the National Assembly, the Senate, governors and the county assemblies do. On this role of oversight, the Senate continues to be bashed and abused severally. Why would a governor refuse to appear before our constituted Committee which looks at the taxes that Kenyans pay, and this is not anyone’s money, but taxes which go to counties? They are supposed to work for the people. The express role of the Senate is to oversight and protect these counties. The Senate also ensures that resources that go to counties actually work for the citizens of this country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it continues to sound out of question why someone would not appear before the Senate. Unless it is a sign of guilt because why can you not come and address a matter that is just a query? Unless you are guilty, that could be the only reason you do not want to come and explain why a certain audit query has been raised. We have not said that you are guilty of misappropriation of funds. It is upon you because when you took the oath of office, you said that you will serve the people of that county. One of the tasks was to spend their money in the right way. If there is a query, then you appear before the Committee of this House which does that job and clear your name and that of your officers. Whether a Senator sits in that Committee and wants to run for governor, National Assembly seat or any other seat like the presidency in the next elections, it is not this Committee that will vote for you and neither will any Senator. You will go back to the electorate and ask for votes. I do not know what you are afraid of over a Senator who sits in this House and will also have to go and ask for votes out there. So, you cannot say that you cannot appear before that Committee because so and so sits in that Committee and wants to be governor. Both of you will go back to the electorate and they will give you a red card whether you come to this Committee to clear your name or not. It is the electorate who will put everyone on a weighing scale and decide whether you have worked for them or not. As I conclude, it is unfortunate, but I hope that my Samburu County Governor had valid reasons as to why he did not appear before this Committee today. Those of us who come from counties where for a long time we have cried that we are marginalised, we want to know whether the resources that go to those counties are being used to do the work that they are supposed to do. I hope that he will appear before the Committee, clear the queries that are there and then move forward in serving the people of this country. Finally, the court has now ruled that they should appear before the Committee. They should stop looking for flimsy reasons about Sen. Mbuvi and Gov. Kidero who already came today. Please, look for another reason as we have dealt with that one. Gov. Kidero came and answered his queries. I urge all governors who are supposed to appear before this Committee to do so and spare us a lot of time to discuss matters which are straightforward. 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"
}