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{
    "id": 890844,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/890844/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 194,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "make sense. I am happy that the SRC, in consultation with the Committee, has set the maximum capping. I hope that there will be a mechanism to monitor this. The Chairperson of the Committee on Budget and Finance should ensure that they follow up on this because a governor’s residence has now been capped at Kshs45 million; deputy governor’s residence at Kshs35 million; speaker’s residence at Kshs35 million and, county headquarters at Kshs500 million. I hope that the Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Finance will do proper follow up, so that we do not exceed this capping. What was happening was causing uproar. People were saying that the purpose of devolution was to ensure the promotion of equal and equitable distribution of resources and development in all villages and counties. However, what was happening was like enriching a few and giving five-star treatment to the governors and the county assembly speakers. Madam Temporary Speaker, I have gone through the observations, and on the issue of rent, the timeline of 20th June should be rescinded. Even as we agree that there should be extension of time from the SRC, we should agree that we move in a more convenient way, so that we do not go to the third generation of devolution--- In fact, the latest period should have been the second generation on devolution because constructing governor’s residence, county headquarters, county assembly chambers and speaker’s residence should have been done in the first generation of devolution. I want to urge the Committee on Budget and Finance that they should not give more time. They should extend for only two to three years, so that we conclude and ensure that devolution settles and works for the people. There are many counties who exaggerated budget provisions for construction of speaker’s and governor’s residences. For example, Homa Bay County had allocated Kshs150 million for the speaker’s residence. Murang’a County had allocated Kshs350 million for the governor’s, deputy governor’s and the speaker’s residences. Nyeri County had allocated Kshs200 million for the governor’s residence while Kirinyaga County had allocated Kshs100 million for the governor’s residence. I want to agree with the Committee that we need to have a standardization design. Here they have attached a prototype of what should be built. For example, the house of a governor in Nairobi should be like a governor’s residence in Kisumu County, Moyale, Garissa or any other county, but with a few modifications depending on culture or symbolism. Madam Temporary Speaker, I know there are counties ongoing with the construction of county headquarters. Other counties have finished construction of county assembly chambers, while others are still constructing the speaker’s and governor’s residences. The issues of pending bills totaling Kshs110 billion should be addressed immediately by the National Treasury. The President has tried to address it. As we re- negotiate these pending bills, we must be very keen because someone might have been awarded a contract of Kshs100 million to construct a house in county ‘A” or ‘B’ and, probably, did a shoddy work. We should not risk another legal impediment to some of these projects. This is because the moment you re-negotiate a contract, and if there was no clause that would allow for such negotiations, then we will be risking many legal suits. For example, the 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."
}