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{
    "id": 680015,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/680015/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 44,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kembi-Gitura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 242,
        "legal_name": "James Kembi Gitura",
        "slug": "kembi-gitura"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to this very important Motion. Right from the outset, let me start by expressing my surprise at what was said by my colleague, Sen. Dr. Machage, about receiving text messages for a certain section of this Senate not to come today, because, apparently, there was no consultation between the leadership in the House. I know Sen. (Dr.) Machage to be a man of honour. Coming from him, I can say without fear of contradiction that, yes, that kind of direction must have come. I commend him and all those from the Minority side who have come to finalise the business of this House. It is not a small thing that you have called us from recess which we had just commenced by a gazette notice, to come this morning and transact this very important business. I have read Standing Order No.29 and it is quite clear that either the Senate Majority or the Minority Leader can requisition you for a special sitting to transact important business of the House. So, I must say that I feel very disturbed by this turn of events.If we cannot pass this important Motion, then it means – this has to be a vote by county delegations – that disbursement to counties will delay further and affect the conduct of business in counties. Sometimes we understand some of the problems that could be there. Those of us who support devolution so much are a lot of times frustrated by seeing the amount of work that we do in the Senate. We work out the formula for the division of revenue that goes to the counties. When the money goes there, we do not seem to see exactly what it does on the ground. Many times, we are told that the money is insufficient because most of the money goes to recurrent expenditure and very little to development. However, many counties including the one that I represent, even if it is only 40 per cent left for development, it is not visible on the ground.You cannot see exactly what that money has done in the counties. One of the reasons is that the Senate passed the County Development Boards Act which was duly assented to but the governors took the matter to court where it is still pending. Devolution is not and cannot be a finished product; it is always work in progress. That is why, we in the Senate in our wisdom, believed that in these early stages of devolution, it would have been good for the counties, devoid of egos, for people who are elected, to sit together and come out with what is best for each of 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"
}