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{
    "id": 703387,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/703387/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 214,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Musila",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 94,
        "legal_name": "David Musila",
        "slug": "david-musila"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we are all party members of some sort and I think it is in order for the Chair of a party to congratulate his Secretary General when he does a good job, just like I am about to congratulate my Vice Chair for ably preparing this Bill and the manner in which he has moved it. This is a day for Wiper Party because the Vice Chair moved the Bill, the Secretary General did what he did and the Chair is about to make a contribution. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support this timely Bill that comes from experience. The County Governments Act has certain issues and problems that can only come to light when we put it to test. I am happy that following the issue of Makueni County Government, the Senator for the county discovered and saw the need for an amendment. This arose as a result of a lacuna existing in the law, where the President appoints a commission, which submits the report to him. The President then takes a decision without referring the matter to the Senate, notwithstanding the fact that the Senate, by Constitution, is the defender of county governments. Therefore, in any decision of such magnitude, the Senate must have an input. That is why I support this amendment and applaud Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. for bringing it. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the case of Makueni County was cited as an example, where the President appointed a commission. You have heard from Sen. Hassan the elaborate measures that were taken to appoint the commission through the Senate committees; vetting and swearing in members. The assumption is that these members were chosen because of their integrity, knowledge and ability. The Commission submitted its report to the President that the Makueni County Government be dissolved. The shocker was that the President went against that recommendation. That was okay because he has the discretion. This Bill wants to close that loophole in a reasonable manner. The Senate having been given the mandate by the Constitution to be the protector of counties should have been given that report to deliberate on. As it stands now, we even do not know what discretion the President used. There was no memorandum because there is nothing in the law that provides for that. Therefore, the President went ahead and gave the County Government of Makueni a lifeline. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is a government that is known and the assembly habitually does not pass the budgets. There is a quarrel every time. As I speak, there is a quarrel. I did not support the abolition of the county government because I found it strange for a government to recommend itself to be dissolved. I am sure the framers of this Constitution anticipated that the public will have a problem, feel that this county government should go and they will, therefore, petition. Although they petitioned in this case, that petitioning and rounding up of the public to petition was financed by the county government. I found it very strange that Makueni 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"
}