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{
    "id": 911718,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/911718/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 658,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Eng.) Maina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 75,
        "legal_name": "Ephraim Mwangi Maina",
        "slug": "ephraim-maina"
    },
    "content": "House being deliberately denied to go and do oversight that the Constitution has put on this House. I think a referendum is coming from what I read around. Nobody needs to think deeply. It is not algebra but simple arithmetic. It seems to be coming. When the referendum comes, this House must position itself. It should create the mood in this country with wananchi where they will support this House to be the real Upper House with powers to oversight, save this country’s money and ensure that the money that goes to the counties is put into useful expenditure. Projects stall because it is not very interesting or appealing to county governments to buy drugs. The reason is that we buy drugs from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). I am not very sure, but I do not think there are systems there where you will decide to buy drugs for Kshs10 million but the invoice is for Kshs100 million. Madam Temporary Speaker, when you say that you are building a road from point A to B, there is all manner of games that go on. Let us not pretend that we do not know this. Six people are called. In fact, they are individuals who have formed companies and they are told to present documents and they are called for the tenders. The story then begins. The money is even paid upfront and once it is paid, there is no motivation to keep on pushing the project. This is because in the first place, the project may not have been necessary. The stalling of projects also happens because of what the Constitution envisaged is not happening. Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) were supposed to oversight controlling the governor and his executive. Unfortunately, today, they just sit down and all is quiet. This is the truth that is happening. In the first term, there used to be a lot of squabbling between MCAs and governors. Today, it is very quiet. The reason is that during the sit down, each of them will get Kshs30 million for building roads in their area. You will bring the contractor and supervise him but whatever you do, just take care of the headquarters. That is the reality. It is all quiet and the only person suffering is Wanjiku. There is no road and money is being paid. Some of the things that are happening are actually criminal. As long we continue turning a blind eye to the reality in this country, let us not think that devolution will succeed this way. Devolution is a good idea and was there in the 1960s and 1970s. In fact, in my primary school, books and other equipment were being delivered by a big lorry written District Education Board (DEB). County councils were building and maintaining roads and they used to do it effectively. However, the laws then were clearer than today. Devolution will not succeed the way we are, unless in the few counties where the governor has a moral heart for his people. That is just a minority and that is the reality. How can anybody tell me that you go to 90 per cent of the clinics in this country and you cannot get malaria drugs? Wananchi cannot do simple blood tests. They are given sheets of paper to go to some private places. We better re-think devolution. What is it doing to education? They say that they are dealing with Early Childhood Development centres (ECDs). What ECDs are they dealing with when the schools in most areas are in deplorable situations? I saw somewhere children taking their lessons outside. Surely, you do not need even Kshs5 million to put up five basic classrooms for the children."
}