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{
    "id": 680080,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/680080/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 109,
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    "content": "having a meeting today, half of the House is not there. I think we can compare the two days; yesterday and today, and the subject matter to be discussed for the two days, the subject matter for today is very significant. That is the reason why I find difficulties to come up with an explanation as to why some people can fail to come, contribute and listen to the budgetary allocations, commitment and financing some of our functions. To me, it is difficult to understand because some people have just decided not to. I can call that a deliberate move to snub the business of this House. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is also important for us to take precautions. When we travel out – and I have stated this many times – we go and compare Kenya with other countries that we visit. If you go to Korea and when you are in Isiolo taking tea with some Koreans, ask yourself why we are not on the same level with Korea. If you go to Malaysia, the same thing happens when you see the Twin Towers of Kuala Lumpur. When you get to other countries, you find that Kenya should have been advanced to the present levels but the quarrel and the reason is that we are not preaching what we read. We do not take what is in the bottle but rather, we are taking different substance. In this case, we are not serious about what we are professing and what we are representing our people for. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we were all elected as Senators to protect devolution. This is why you will find most of us here because we are getting services closer to our people in our counties. This confirms that this House has followed activities from the moment they are passed here up to the counties. As the Chairman of Committee on Education, I have confirmed that what is in the counties particularly in the education sector--- there is a lot of development on Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE). This is an area which is devolved to the counties. There is a lot of commitment to the county level. We have ECDE rooms constructed, we have a lot of commitments coming from the governors and the Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) and there are a lot of developments taking place in the counties like water, agriculture, roads and many others. For the first time, some people are confessing that they are seeing tarmacked roads for the first time. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was in Maralal County when I took my committee there and people were amazed to see tarmac roads. So, they are seeing it for the first time. This is as a result of devolution. If this is going to happen – it has happened and it continues to happen through the Senate which is supposed to oversight devolution – then we should be able to thank ourselves and say it is because of this House. I appreciate that the House has done well and that is why we are here to continue contributing towards development. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are so many things which happen in the counties which if we negate them, then we will be accused by our own voters for having abandoned the strategies which are supposed to be seen like it is development. In Kirinyaga, for example, we have a very important rice irrigation scheme called Mwea- Tebere Irrigation Scheme. Here, we produce more than 80 per cent of the national rice. The Government through devolution has given us a substantial amount of money but we still require more than what we receive. We need water from our rivers flowing through. It is a pity seeing our rivers flowing with water brown as they are, indicating that they 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"
}