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{
    "id": 943076,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/943076/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 226,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "Secondly, I want to appreciate the fact that even in this debate, there is always this argument that a Governor has not been given a fair hearing. It is not only in this impeachment process, but in all the other six impeachment processes that went before us, the argument has always been that fair hearing has not been given to the governor at the county level. It is established as ruled by the Supreme Court that those issues can be raised at the Senate, because this is where the trial is taking place. Mr. Speaker Sir, I am happy that the Committee made recommendations and observations as to whether the Governor was given a fair hearing or not. I want to commend the Chairperson and the Members of this Committee for acquitting themselves that they are not seeking for vendetta. Even when the governor refused to appear before the Committee, the Committee stuck to the law, the rules and regulations. They decided that they will be fair to him despite the fact that he did not appear before them. I have looked at some of the recommendations of the Committee; they required certain evidence that was not supplied by the county assembly. They required certain representation from the county assembly that was not substantiated. Based on that, they were fair and made a decision which is the right decision. Thirdly, I said this last time and I want to repeat. The process of impeachment is a process of accountability. It is about bringing out the issues that are affecting county assemblies. It is not a vendetta to pursue a particular individual. As a result of that accountability process, there are very pertinent recommendations that have been made in this report. There is a serious recommendation that has been given there that independent institutions - particularly the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) - should investigate the allegations that have been leveled against the governor, particularly allegations related to purchase of rigs and hiring of casual staff which increased the wage bill. Taita-Taveta County is among the top five county governments in Kenya that have the highest wage bill despite the fact that it is also among the five counties that receive the lowest allocation from the national Government. I hope your office - through the Clerk’s Office - will quickly submit this report to the EACC. They have been given 60 days to investigate and come back to Parliament through the relevant committee, which is the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC), so that a process of accountability can be achieved when it comes to the resources of the people of Taita-Taveta. That might be a better process than even this House, because that process will be forensic. It will be done by people who are experts and they will report back to this House through CPAIC. Through that, we will have achieved accountability. Mr. Speaker Sir, I am also glad that as a result of this process I am told that already there is a communication between the governor and the county assembly and they are beginning to work out a formula of working together. That is exactly what we are talking about, that a public process of accountability that involves the House whose responsibility it is protect and defend counties will play a major role in bringing those county assemblies together. I will not be surprised soon they will have the budget passed and they will begin to walk together because there is a process of accountability. This House is able to hold them accountable. There is a recommendation that a mediation process be initiated in this House. I want to congratulate the Chairperson of the Committee on Devolution, Sen. Kinyua 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."
}