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{
    "id": 782466,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/782466/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 333,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "It is important that we have symbols of the counties as well and that they go to the College of Arms Act. We might find counties proposing outrageous symbols. If you do not guide some counties; the mixture of colors, the kind of animals they put might alarm you. Some symbols may look appealing to us but they have certain cult or religious meanings. It is good for there to be a consultative process that includes the College of Arms to give them a grant. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to pose a question on the amendment in Section 11. I wish the mover would listen. Clause 11 (c) says that if the county assembly resolves a resolution supported by two thirds of the Members of the county assembly, they can remove their speaker. However, the threshold of the election of a speaker is much higher at the first round. Why should the threshold of removal of a speaker similarly not follow the same process of the appointment? You start with 75 per cent and if it is not outright then you move in that manner. That would be fair. We want speakers to exercise independence. There are many speakers across the country who are being threatened by governors, that if they do not toe their line, then the governor because of access to resources can mobilize MCAs to impeach the speakers. Therefore, there are county assemblies that have become appendages of county executives because of that kind of threshold and fear of losing their positions. As a Senate, we need to protect the speakers from malicious victimization and fear of being hounded out of office because it is very easy. If I became a governor today, even just through persuasion or the kind of projects I would implement, it would be very easy to control all the MCAs in terms of having them on my side. So, if I do not want so and so as the speaker and I just need two thirds majority, it would be very easy to attain that. I suggest that we amend this provision. I am sure the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) once they bring their memorandum which is not here already, will be proposing the same thing; that we raise the threshold of removal of a speaker. The recall of the MCAs is way out there. I am not sure we would even ban our own recall. I do not know why we are looking at the recall of MCAs. These are some of those aspirational provisions in the law that are very hard to implement. Mr. Speaker, Sir, for example, I got elected as a Senator with 850,000 votes. To me, does a recall stand legally if the votes will be lower than what I got? If 10,000 people express their sovereignty in choosing a Member of County Assembly (MCA), should the threshold then for recalling him be the same or more? I want to talk about the powers of the governor to appoint and dismiss a deputy governor and County Executive Committee (CEC) members. I hold that the system we have has really put encumbrances on our governors. First of all, from the constitutional provision that for you to vie as a governor, you need to have a running mate whom you announce, run with and get elected. Once you get elected, this fellow whom you appointed as your deputy governor, for whatever consideration, then says he brought half of the votes, then you need to do this and that or give him this and that slots. We see tussles in county governments. Many deputy governors are suffering across the country. However, they are not talking about it. If there was no toll on their resignation, I am sure many of them would resign because they do not see eye to eye with their governors. 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."
}