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{
    "id": 782462,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/782462/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 329,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "March 20, 2018 SENATE DEBATES 46 Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, there is a lot of interest. Most Senators had an opportunity to contribute to this before. I am glad to be the last before the mover replies. I join the Senator of Makueni County who spoke before me in acknowledging the industry and dedication of our Senate Majority Leader in trying to bring clarity into a lot of these provisions that have been missing within our laws and the lacunas that we have had. As we all recognize, devolution is growing. We had not done devolution before and this is the first time our country is dealing with it. The lessons learnt in the last five years, indeed, should serve as guiding lights to the areas that we need to look at. There is merit in the thought that we might want to consolidate some of the Bills that are being proposed that are similar for neatness and clarity of the law. We do not have to look at many statutes that are talking about similar issues. We can have all of them in a bundle or have them altogether. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the last term of devolution was almost seen as if devolution was a competition between the two levels of government – the counties and the national Government competing for space, the Senate and governors and Senate and the National Assembly. It is important that our disposition as the Senate towards devolution, governors and the members of the National Assembly changes. Kenyans are not interested in the competition and the turf wars, for example, between the “Upper House” and “Lower House” over who has the money and who has the knife in their arm. Kenyans want services delivered to them and that is the real object of devolution, based on the principle of subsidiarity where a service is best offered at the lowest level, compatible with the benefit area of the same service. That is what we signed when we promulgated this Constitution. I no longer call it the new Constitution because it is a bit old now. That is what we need to stay true to."
}