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{
    "id": 811982,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/811982/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 72,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "this Bill. This is because from history we have learnt that centralization of power does not give solutions. One of the reasons we have the challenge of contraband goods of all shapes and sizes that has made our country a dumping ground of all illegal and useless things of the world, is because we centralized the organisation where standardization of the goods that are being imported or exported out of the country is done. Had we thought this through properly, we could have said that a specific standardization body takes care of food matters or anything that is for human consumption. We could have another body to standardize agricultural inputs. It has been proved that man, by his very nature, has the capacity to do good and evil in equal measure. You will always be tempting someone when you charge them with so much power to determine so much for another individual. You can imagine a country with an economy as diverse as Kenya, with only one institution and one individual upon whose signature goods come into the country or not. You are tempting that individual. Even if we were to appoint the Pope to be in charge of such an institution, surely, he will be tempted. Therefore, it is extremely wise for Sen. Wako to think through and say that each institution should do its own regulations for public participation. Decentralization is the way to go and that is why we have devolution. For 50 years we tried to manage all our resources at the centre, but it was being finished by mandarins in Nairobi. That is why we asked to go to our county headquarters to plan and chart our way and future. Therefore, this House must assert itself and ensure that devolution succeeds. We cannot consider the other option. What will we tell the members of the public? When we passed the new Constitution, we assured them that the challenges that they were facing in the previous governments will be no more. Instead of coming to Nairobi, they will have to visit their county headquarters, say, Kericho Town for those who come from the county that I represent and find all the solutions. What will happen if we get to the third or fourth cycle of devolution and the residents have given up? What will happen if they say that they cannot trust the center and do not have faith and hope in the regional governments? That will be an extremely difficult decision. I remember that we had an interesting scenario when we went to the counties at the time when we were dealing with the issue of the cess that is being paid by tea farmers. In certain counties members of the public told us that they trust the quality of the roads that are being done by their county governments. They wanted their cess deducted from their pay and given to the county governments. In certain counties, they told us that they have no problem with the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and trust it. However, they do not trust their county governments. The mother of it all was when we got into counties where people told us that they have no trust in KTDA and the county government. They asked to be given money to organize themselves and see how they could fix their roads. That is the tragedy that were are staring at should we not get to a phase where we are to consider and take into considerable action the views of the public and the people that we represent. 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."
}