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{
"id": 890843,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/890843/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
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"content": "headquarters, deputy governor’s and speaker’s residences and county assembly chambers that will host plenary sessions and committee sittings. They should have a particular simple heritage, which is the pride of every region. For example, Turkana County or Mombasa County should have its unique design that represents a specific symbolism with the purpose of ensuring that devolution works for the people. Madam Temporary Speaker, I agree that we need county headquarters that are very convenient to use. This is because they do not belong to specific governors, but the residents. They are places where issues can be handled. The capping of Kshs500 million for the county headquarters is very important. Since my governor was elected, he is still using the provincial administration offices in Kapsabet. He is, therefore, squeezing the county commissioner. I am happy that the Principal Secretary (PS) in charge of Housing and Infrastructure was able to intervene at some point because the governor wanted to bring down the old offices that were being constructed by his predecessor due to vested interests or variations. The contractor who was there would be replaced with a new one or variation done, and that is where corruption would come in. Madam Temporary Speaker, that is why we need some of these oversight mechanisms. Were it not for the intervention of the PS in charge of Housing and Infrastructure in this country with regard to the construction of Nandi County headquarters that will house the office of the governor and other departments, a building would have been brought down based on political vested interests or issues of variation. Some people would “eat” money meant for that project. That is why I agree that oversight should be done. I am happy that the construction of the office of the governor in Kapsabet is ongoing without interference and has been given clean bill of health by the relevant public works department. This is despite the contrary opinion that was being perpetuated by the governor and his government that it did not meet the standards. Madam Temporary Speaker, I agree that some of these governors’ residences are very crucial. We need to have them, but modesty should be key. We agree that the former provincial commissioner’s and district commissioner’s residences were at that time, at that level. However, in as much as our governors and county assembly speakers want to live large like kings, we should have modesty as a way of ensuring--- I know that most governors do not live in their counties. Just like my own governor, the Governor of Nandi County, the governors of Elgeyo-Marakwet, West Pokot, Homa Bay and Tharaka-Nithi counties do not have houses. They are, therefore, forced to live outside their counties. For example, the governors for Nandi and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties reside in Eldoret, which coincidentally, is in your county. We are very gracious that you are hosting almost four governors in your county. Therefore, even as we construct we should prioritize based on this facts. I agree that we need to fast-track this, so that our county governments can run well. Madam Temporary Speaker, the previous construction of county governments governor’s, deputy governor’s, and county assembly speaker’s residences would cost Kshs100 million to Kshs250 million. It caused a lot of uproar because people were asking for Early Childhood Development (ECDs) centres, dispensaries, roads, drugs, and bursaries. To spend Kshs100 to 250 million to build a home in a rural county does not The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}