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{
    "id": 698600,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/698600/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 223,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wako",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 366,
        "legal_name": "Amos Sitswila Wako",
        "slug": "amos-wako"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Mover of the Motion correctly put emphasis on our oversight role as enshrined in Article 96 of the Constitution. It states that we oversight the national revenue allocated to the counties. This is a very important role of the Senate. The Senate would have succeeded in this role if we ensured that corruption at the national level is not devolved to the county level. Owing to the transitional problems that we have had, the institutions which deal with this matter have had problems. The Senate and the Judiciary have had problems. The seed of corruption has been planted in the counties. It is about to sprout. We would have succeeded as Senate if in the remaining term of our tenure, we ensure that whatever has sprouted or is about to develop roots is uprooted. I say so because it has been proved that corruption in this country is normally at its highest levels when we are approaching elections. This is evident from Independence to date. Whenever we approach elections, the levels of corruption go up. We, as the Senate and the oversight body must triple our efforts in the remaining period to ensure that this year is an exception particularly in relation to county governments. I sit in the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC). In a number of counties, the budget allocated to the governor for this year is double or even triple what has been the average allocation to the office of the governor in the previous years. In my county this has happened in spite of me going to the county assembly and addressing them that they must interrogate that particular item before they approve it. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, interestingly, when I tried to find out why they approved it, some of the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) were very candid. They said that they approved it because they were told by the county government led by the governor that: “Herein lies the money for you to campaign for elections.” So, right from the word “go” the county assembly has gone to bed with the governor because of the impending elections. They are colluding to see how public money can be diverted to private use and interests of the MCAs to be re-elected. They are doing this with impunity. That is why I would urge various institutions concerned with corruption to be alert. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, somebody has talked about the Office of the Auditor-General. I disagree with the Senate Majority Leader that the Auditor-General has strayed and that he must go. My Committee called the Auditor-General and he had his reasons which were valid as to why he is not working up to the optimal level that he would want to work at. One is inadequate staffing. Unfortunately, he cannot rectify that inadequacy not only because of the poor terms of service but because of an amendment that was made in the National Assembly. 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"
}