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{
    "id": 803495,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/803495/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 382,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "County governments are a form of government outside the national Government. So, you will find the governor holding a meeting for the county executive or cabinet and maybe they are discussing or intend to do something that has legal implications. In this instance, this Bill will ensure they give proper legal advice and participate in the process within the county governments so thatthe county executive or county assemblies pronounce themselves within the legal parameters so that we do not have most counties being taken to court. This will ensure that by the time they are coming out, they are aware of what should be done and ensure that they advise the county. Sometimes the county can be sued and it is important that we have indicated that they should have legal representation. This country is now struggling with graft, grand corruption, mega scandals that stink to high levels. Therefore, we are trying to tighten the bolts so that in future we do not see the hidden dramas where we see suspects applying lipstick in courtrooms or showing off tattoos on their hands or other parts of the body.It is important we ensure that we tighten such bolts so that we avoid these circuses that we see in this country. I am not saying that all governors have been painted in bad light. They are very good at looking for ways of how to spend their money. So, they will look for some of our colleagues. Madam Temporary Speaker, I know most of our colleagues are legal practitioners and may be doing business with the counties. I am not saying that they are doing the business in bad faith. It is shocking that even Nairobi City County, and I stand to be guided, has a pending bill of about Kshs800 million to Kshs1.2 billion in form of legal fees. If you go through this matter, you might find that it was a legal service that would have consumed not more than Kshs1 million. However, since there is no format on how you can engage, or what you can do, by the time the governor is seeking this legal advice, the county attorney should have been able to digest and allow. I think a third part is to ensure legislative and other legal matters. Madam Temporary Speaker, tomorrow we are hosting the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government as the Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights. Even some counties engage in treaties and many other issues. I have seen some counties are signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) and others want to establish Export Processing Zones (EPZ). In my county, I saw the governor trying to come into mutual agreements where as some of those agreements have legal implications. As we speak, some counties get into MOUs and treaties, among other things without signed legal advice. Therefore, we risk falling into legal landmines that might in future cost counties control of their own engagement. It is important that these people go through the Bills at that level so that by the time the counties come up with such documents, it is tied up. They should participate in the negotiation process before they sign it so that we do not have our counties signing some of the documents that are not well informed. This will make them avoid risks, going forward. Madam Temporary Speaker, another point is that, if we need amendments at the county assembly or anywhere else, this will assist because there are some amendments 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."
}