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{
    "id": 812388,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/812388/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 22,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Eng.) Maina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 75,
        "legal_name": "Ephraim Mwangi Maina",
        "slug": "ephraim-maina"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I stand to welcome the counties of Trans Nzoia and Busia and tell them that we, in the Senate, look forward to counties doing their constitutional duties. The responsibility of counties is heavy. As one speaker said, the issue of oversight should be taken more seriously by the county assemblies than it is happening in the counties. They are in these positions for a purpose because under no circumstances should money be put into some luxurious projects, when essential things like drugs in hospitals are not available. An essential service like education to our children should be available. It is their responsibility to ensure that money allocated for roads is spent on constructing the same roads and not diverted elsewhere. For example, if money is allocated for a five kilometre road, it should be spent on the same. When it is a murram road, it should be well compacted murram to the required standards. These are the responsibilities that the county assemblies should always remind themselves about. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Senate would like to assist and support counties in giving services. However, we will not help or support in squandering resources. When it comes to that, we are called names. Our role is to commend and reprimand when need be. Devolution will work when the county assemblies recognize their prime role of oversight. They should work hand in hand with the Senate. As one Senator mentioned, they should bring up these issues in the public gatherings. Congratulations and commendations should always be there for good work. However, it should not be the custom every morning and evening. We wish to support counties that are abiding by the Constitution and reprimand those that are not abiding by the Constitution. The counties of Busia and Trans Nzoia are facing a hard time because sugarcane farming is not doing well anymore. Maize farming has also been hit. These two county assemblies, together with the national Government, should focus on these issues and see how they can revive sugarcane farming. There was a time when one would visit Mumias and see a brilliant town. Likewise, whenever one visited Kitale and Eldoret, they would see happy people. These issues are being experienced all over. Even in Central Kenya, coffee and tea farming is not doing well. It is upon the counties to try and see where they will cooperate with the national Government in order to revive those crops back to where they were. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to say, as we always say; we are here because the leadership bestowed on us is for the betterment of our people and also the county assemblies. We thank you for visiting us; please, come again, even when you have questions. The Speaker is available for you and he is one of you. We also have Sen. Sakaja here; I did not know that he wanted to vie in Trans Nzoia County---"
}