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{
    "id": 893958,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/893958/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 350,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. First of all, I rise to compliment my friend Sen. Olekina for coming up with this Bill. Like the previous speakers, there are two main features in this Bill. One, this Bill is prescribing the manner and method to create the infrastructure necessary for public participation. Two, this Bill is putting into focus the role of the Senator in matters of oversight at the county level. I believe this Bill has drawn its inspiration from Article 174 of our Constitution about devolution. One of such elements I want to quote in Article 174 (d) to (f) on the Objects of Devolution is- “The objects of devolution of government are- (d) to recognize the rights of communities to manage their own affairs and to further their development. (e) to protect and promote the interest and rights of minorities and marginalized communities. (f) to promote social and economic development in the provision of proximate, easily accessible services throughout Kenya.” Madam Temporary Speaker, just as we argued about the sharing of the national resources, we said there must be equitable resource sharing at the devolved systems; the county governments. Similarly, a situation obtains analogous to what has been obtaining at the national level, namely that when it gets at the county level, some of the areas within the county have either been marginalized or ignored. Even if they have been ignored, nobody pays any particular attention and there is no avenue through which they can raise this pertinent issue of marginalization that happens quite obviously without any recourse. Not only does this Bill prescribe the manner in which the infrastructure should be set up; we can use the existing laws, innovate them and ensure it is structured. I have in mind that devolution goes to the smallest unit. The smallest unit in my own reckoning is the village councils. There is need for our village councils to be able to deliberate and debate on matters that affect them on a day-to-day basis. What happens currently is that the so- called public participation is so hurried up and is strategically placed in markets so that the communication department will go and take the photographs of the people in the market and they will say there was huge public participation and say what was decided upon. More often than not, you will find that these issues have been choreographed from the office of the Executive and are presented before the county assembly for necessary legislation that there was adequate public participation. We now need to innovate so that there is complete participation at the village level. I would like to feel that somebody in Magena in Bomachoge-Borabu Constituency or somebody somewhere in Nyamarambe, Gesusu or Masimba is listening, being heard and there is a structured meeting which has been properly convened. They 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."
}