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{
    "id": 764543,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/764543/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 239,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": " It is a Motion; everything is called a Motion. It is the business on the Order paper. It is a Motion by reference, but it is a Bill. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to make it clear because we went through this process yesterday and today. This Bill is important, but we are not doing anything substantive. We are actually doing correction of errors of what was already done in the 11th Parliament. We did all the work we did, but the manner in which the schedule was drafted did not conform to the requirements of the Constitution and the law. The schedule has just been corrected to reflect common sense and ensure that through the distribution and disbursement to the counties, we can identify the resources that have been allocated under the Constitution, in so far as equitable sharing of resources is concerned. It also includes the grants that come from donors and other resources that go to our counties. As a Senate, we have a very important responsibility because our counties need to move forward. In this country, many people complain about marginalisation. I heard governors and leaders from the former coast province complaining about marginalisation but we have devolution to cure the problem of marginalisation. Many Senators will agree with me that we still face challenges even in counties like Turkana and Mandera which get large allocations of money. Other counties that get huge sums of money include Nairobi but you will still find people struggling to get services. When you ask the same governors questions, they will be quick to say that the national Government marginalises them without realising that they marginalise their own people by stealing the money, going for trips, poor allocation of resources and purchasing houses whose prices are inflated. This House has always acted in a bi-partisan manner in oversighting county governments. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was surprised to hear the Senate Minority Leader say that this House cannot question what happens in country assemblies. We are here to question what happens in county assemblies and county executives. That is why Article 96 provides that we oversight county governments. We have to ask how they do their business, move their Motions and pass their laws. I do not agree with those who say that we cannot ask questions as to how county assemblies and executives conduct themselves. If we cannot do that, then we need to close up shop and go home. Article 96 gives us power to question and oversight county governments and where there is contradiction between the Standing Orders or any Act of Parliament on that constitutional responsibility--- We must take our job seriously and ensure that resources that we allocate to county governments are used well. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not want to take so much time. I beg to move and ask Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. to second so that we move faster."
}