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{
    "id": 959433,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/959433/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 203,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. The Senate Majority Leader made certain allegations, and it is always good to be on record to correct them. Yes, indeed, I tweeted; and I said that we did our best, but I guess our best was not good enough. I said whether we like it or not, county governments will receive Kshs 316.5 billion. I never said that we surrendered. I want to express my position, because I do not believe that there is any reason why we should laud the Executive or the National Assembly when what they are doing is wrong. It is not sound in law. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I attended that Mediation Committee meeting. We discussed the issues and no Member of the Committee from the National Assembly gave facts. All they were saying was that there is no money. The Kenyans who elected us brought us here need to understand that when we are here, we are doing what they sent us to do. That is to represent them in this House, despite various challenges. There is a Kiswahili saying, “ Kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa .” That does not mean that whether I agreed or disagreed, I always get my way. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this issue of division of revenue is very important. I agree with my colleagues who have walked out that it is imperative for Kenyans to know that the Senate is fighting for devolution. If we do not express ourselves on this Bill, then we will not need to be in this House tomorrow. This is because, first of all, we will be gagged and not allowed to express ourselves. It is, therefore, important for Kenyans to know that when we sat in that Committee, we said that it is wrong and dangerous for this country to have one Appropriation Act. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we came up with a lot of suggestions. I did not say that we totally failed. There are two issues here; first, it dawned on us that we, as Members of Parliament and even the Executive, were enjoying ourselves, but the counties were suffering."
}