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{
    "id": 712990,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/712990/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 435,
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    "content": "business that we have so that when the new Senate comes in, they will appreciate the work we will have done. We have different challenges in different counties. We know that health is a devolved function and we hope that before we go for elections, this Senate will assist counties to do what is required, especially with regard to remuneration of those who work within the health sector.We hope that those who aspire to be governors will do that diligently. They should bring change and services that Kenyans wanted when they were passing the new Constitution. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, today, counties have different accounts in different commercial banks. I think it is time this Senate and the National Treasury sat down to ensure that we have one account at the Central Bank of Kenya so that each county can run smoothly without the many commercial accounts. For example, to date, we have Kshs836million of county governments lying at Chase Bank because they are unable to withdraw it. They should be made to answer questions why they opened commercial accounts knowing very well what the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act says.These are some of the questions that every Senator should go back and ask their governor whether they have money lying in different commercial accounts. That is money being stolen by people. We have said that corruption is a cosmetic word. It is better to be brunt and call it “stealing”. This Senate stood together regardless of our political divide. We have our own difference, but in times of running the Senate business, I believe we stood above our political divides. I hope that as we go for the campaigns, we can still maintain and show the country that we are there to compete, but not to cause divisions along ethnic lines. I hope that 2017 politics will be peaceful. In the end, Kenyans will appreciate that it was a competition and whoever wins be congratulate by the loser. Finally, we deferred many businesses because we could not raise the requisite numbers to vote. It is sometimes important to carry ourselves beyond our limits in serving Kenyans. It is our wish to see Kenya move forward in terms of development. We will have the devolution conference next year. I ask all governors to attend it because it is we, as Senate, who have made sure billions of shillings have been sent to the counties. Therefore, we need to work as a team for the benefit our people. I hope in 2017, governors will also rise above the politics and sit with Senators for the sake of devolution. For those who will be contesting gubernatorial seats, you should be ready for the shock of your life because you might find empty coffers and a lot of debt incurred by current governors throughout the country. I know that we, Senators, will be blamed at that time. Therefore, it is not just something for governors, but both of us. It is because at that time, Kenyans will turn their backs and never remember that we never had money for oversight. They will only remember the work of the Senator was to ensure that their monies are safe. I pray that Kenyans will understand where the Senate has come from and how it has suffered. Without resources, it is not easy to oversight. I hope that Kenyans will change the culture of believing that a politician must have the Constituency Development Fund for them to feel that there is something that they are doing. We now need to embrace the new Constitution where the role of a Member of Parliament (MP) is to oversight and make laws to govern and protect our country. 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"
}