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{
"id": 922166,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/922166/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 440,
"legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
"slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
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"content": "should do. We are not going to the merits. I have confidence that we took our issues to the right forum, and that at the right time, we will find a solution. I congratulate the co- petitioner, Sen. James Orengo, the Senate Minority Leader, and yours truly, the third Petitioner. This is because as a team, we will provide a permanent solution in the country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also congratulate the Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee. The Chairperson of the Committee, who is my former student, has demonstrated that I taught him well. He has provided the right leadership in his Committee. I also thank all the Members of the Committee. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have a special mention for Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr., for his dedication and commitment in the process. I am not saying that the others are not committed. However, he was at the forefront in dealing with many other issues that we wanted to be dealt with, in that Committee. I also thank Sen. Orengo for leading the team of 15 senior and qualified lawyers in this House, and advocates of the High Court of Kenya today. This is the only House that has three Senior Counsels, and we will soon have four or five. This House is self resourced. We have agreed with the Senate Minority Leader that we will bring a suggestion to the Senate Business Committee (SBC), that we do not need to hire other lawyers. The lawyers in this House are enough to do an excellent pro bono job to defend this House, both on the Floor and outside it. I also thank all the Senators for being at the premises of Parliament by seven in the morning. They woke themselves up, saying that this is the day. As Sen. Wetangula has said, the case that we filed today--- Mr. Speaker, Sir, Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve, was amongst the first people to be here. Despite the fact that she walks in crutches, she was among those that walked from here to the Milimani Courts. As Sen. Wetangula said, “this is the case;” because it is the one that will be beneficial to the people of Kenya. Therefore, we should come back to this Chamber to deliberate on the resources that we want to take to the counties. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am proud that the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Commerce and Budget has published a Bill. This Bill is well thought out and advised by a Constitutional body, whose responsibility is to discuss how equitable resources will be shared, according to Articles 202 and 203 of the Constitution. The Kshs335 billion that should go to counties is well thought out, and it is the amount we believe should go to the counties. I will speak about this next week. It is important to tell the nation, as Sen. Orengo mentioned in court today. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also did the same this week, when I had a debate with another person who did not understand the Constitution. It is important to read Article 202 of the Constitution and understand what we mean, when we say that there shall be equitable division of resources between the national Government and county governments. It is because the national Government does not have resources to appropriate for itself. It is Parliament that must sit down and decide how to divide the taxes that have been collected, according to the Constitution, to the two levels of Government. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is wrong for one level of Government to arrogate itself the responsibility of dividing resources, which they do not have. It is until Parliament has passed The Division of Revenue Bill, which we are debating now, that the two levels of Government – once they have the resources that have been divided by Parliament – can sit down and appropriate the resources at both levels of Government. 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."
}