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{
    "id": 848911,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/848911/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 413,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "President Uhuru Kenyatta. Why should we pass laws and then we are stifled by governors, who do not want Senators to have any role in the counties? Then, we continue making amendments, instead of going back to ask: What is it that we have done before? What is the problem? Where is this matter in the Court of Appeal? How can we intervene to see Senators making a meaningful intervention in the counties where we belong? We are strangers in our counties because all avenues and doors have been locked. We take pride in making these laws, but we have no role in places where we have been elected. I have heard people saying that some were elected by a million votes and others 300,000. I was elected by 300,000 votes, which was over 97 per cent of the vote. However, when it comes to matters counties, Senators, just like me, stay in the periphery and cheer, like cheering the World Cup. These amendments are important but, in my view, the Committee needs to interrogate many of these things, so that we can cover all the gaps. There is the issue of impeachment of speakers and CECs. Members may not know, but governors have become powerless in their counties. They appoint a CEC who will misappropriate funds. When they are suspended, they go to court and obtain an injunction. They work at the pleasure of the court. Can we, as Senators, start interrogation these matters and find a formula? Machakos County is in a stalemate. They refused to approve five CECs and the Governor went ahead to appoint them irrespective of the County Assembly’s decision. Nothing in this Act says what the recourse is. Are these people illegally in office or not? These caveats ought to be in the law, so that we can protect counties in the true sense of the word. Madam Temporary Speaker, I am glad that Sen. Kinyua, who is the Chairperson of Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, is here because, as I said, we must audit the County Governments Act. The Committee can propose a raft of amendments to take care of all the lacunas that have appeared in the past and anticipate what will happen in future. When these governors leave office, particularly those serving their second term, they will go to Dubai, the Isle of Man, Baroda and many other places if we do not take action. Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker."
}