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    "id": 798110,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/798110/?format=api",
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    "content": "extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from here to Naivasha. He also indicated that he is in talks to ensure that in future the SGR will move from Naivasha towards Malaba border. I hope and pray that it will pass through our counties, Kisumu and western Kenya. This will open up the western part of Kenya in terms of opportunities and connection to the ports. Our region is very important in terms of business opportunities since we neighbour Uganda. The President said that we are opening to the East African market. Going forward, those are some of the key issues that we would like to see. Madam Temporary Speaker, the third point that the President raised was about the utilisation of key issues. Going forward, we need to digitise most of the key documents that we need. This is because nowadays to get a job in this country one needs a certificate of good conduct, passport and even a birth certificate. The problem we are facing - and I think it was a question in this House – concerns birth certificates. In my county, half of students are still struggling to get birth certificates, so that they can register for the national examinations. It is my prayer that, as part of the Government’s agenda, we should ensure that we digitise some of the vital documents, so that going forward we ensure that they are--- I want to applaud the President and follow up on the speech that he made during the 5th Annual Devolution Conference in Kakamega. He invited the county governments, through the Intergovernmental Relations Committee, to also open part of their service delivery within Huduma Centres. It will be exciting to look at that. The fourth point is on the issue of devolution. We cannot belabour the point because we have seen that it has changed lives in our villages, wards, constituencies and counties. During the 5th Annual Devolution Conference I liked the candid discussion that the Senators and governors had. As you said, oversight should not be viewed in the eyes of being evil or undermining anybody; it is part of our role as the Senate. It is impressive that the Jubilee administration is the first Government to ensure that devolution has grown through leaps and bounds. I applaud the President because from 2013 to now, there has been a steady increase in the allocation of funds that go to our counties. In as much as we want to increase allocations to our counties, we also request the county governments to account, in the same manner, speed and expectation of getting allocations. Although the President did not capture it, as a follow up to his speech during the 5th Annual Devolution Conference in Kakamega County, he said that we now have Kshs50 billion through the Kenya Devolution Support Programme. It is important that it be shared among all counties. This will support devolution. I know that some people are proposing a three-tier structure in some discussions. However, I think that devolution should go down to the village level, but not up to the regional level. Madam Temporary Speaker, I want to applaud the President on the Big Four Agenda. The “handshake” was very important, although some of us have expressed reservations about it. We need the “handshake” only for purposes of unity, development and peace in this country, and not beyond what we are seeing on the sidelines. The Big Four Agenda is very important because it will set the basis and foundation for the legacy of the President. Going forward, we hope to see that. I applaud 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."
}