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{
    "id": 729374,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/729374/?format=api",
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    "content": "We are privileged as a House to be the first Senate in this Republic after the promulgation of our new Constitution in August 2010. When history is written, it will show that we were the people who were there when devolution was being tested for the very first time. I am a very strong believer in devolution. I believe sincerely that it is the future of this country because it is giving equalization or equitability amongst all the people of this nation. I was going to say 42 tribes but I have remembered that we have the 43rd in our country; the Makonde, who were recognized not so long ago and have been living in the country and are now part and parcel of our nation. They are no longer going to suffer the indignity they have suffered over the years. We have made progress. I think the most important is the need to create strong institutions. The Senate may not appear to be as strong as it is supposed to be because Article 96 does not quite give it the strength and teeth that it ought to have and this has been a bone of contention. However, I say with pride that we Senators have worked very hard to see to it that we get our rightful space in the development of our nation. In an interesting manner, I was quite impressed when the National Assembly was discussing Senate only about two weeks ago, and they made a statement that in their view, the Senate needs to be strengthened. I do not know how that is going to be done whether after a referendum or by amendment of the laws that we have. Whichever way it is done, this was the first positive thing that the National Assembly has said about the Senate in the last four years. Devolution is important and is continuing to change this country. That there have been failings, it cannot be blamed on the provisions for devolution in our Constitution but the indictment is on the implementers of devolution. That could be our source as the Senate but more so the people who are implementing it at the county government level. We have spoken about corruption and we shall continue to do so because it is the biggest and greatest scourge and enemy to the development of our country. The indices that we are getting from the counties clearly show the amount of corruption going in there, and how the money that has been devolved to the counties continues to be dissipated by hungry governors, county and tender-entrepreneurs. These are the things we must speak candidly and look for solution. If we do not so, then devolution would have been for nothing. However, I do not believe that all is lost. We are going to elections in the next few months. I want to believe that even my colleague Senators who have opted to try their hand at being governors in this country are not doing it out of selfish reasons, not to follow the food chain of trying to go and also “eat,” but because they have seen the power and the capacity of a devolved system. I want to hope and believe that they are going to the counties as governors because they want to make it work better because they have seen just what kind of feeling there has been about devolution. Devolution will continue to change the country. Further, I am quite impressed even when the President read his speech and referred to Wajir as a county having its first tarmac road since time began or since the history of this country began. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Constitution, as all of us are aware, provides for 15 per cent minimum of the share between the national Government and the county governments. However, all of us know particularly well because we are Senators and we are always 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"
}