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{
    "id": 980256,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/980256/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 174,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "do so. Then I met governors and asked them, what is going on about this pending bills business? Most of the governors told me- “We do not like what is going on. We are being told that we must pay pending bills. Some of the pending bills have questions but we must pay them anyway, because if we do not, money will be withheld by the national Treasury.” What is happening in the counties currently is that money is being withheld, and then you get impeached on the basis of money being withheld. Let me give you a very good example. The County Executive Committee (CEC) member of Nandi County – and the Senator is here – was impeached yesterday and removed from office. The reason for this was because he had presided over the treasury of Nandi County in a manner that has denied money being released by national Government to Nandi County. I am not surprised if, one day, a governor will be impeached. The Governor of Vihiga County might be in danger of being impeached, because money from the national Treasury has not been released to him; this might cause impeachment of a governor. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Sen. Khaniri has raised a very important question. I am seeing a lot of red herrings in the financial sector in the way the national Government is dealing with counties. For now, the process of investigation by Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission (EACC) and the DCI and charging of governors is already one mechanism that has made sure that governors toe the line on whatever the national Government wants. The next line will be the release and withholding of finances. If this behaviour continues, as was not expected in the 2010 Constitution, county governments will be run again like District Focus for Rural Development. You give them money when you want; you deny them money when you want. If a governor makes noise, you send the EACC to his office. If he makes noise, you block the money from here. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I saw the CS for the National Treasury and there was a former Senator – the CS for the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, hon. Munyes. There was also CS Charles Keter. All of us were here with them. The CS for the Ministry of Finance and Planning was a governor, but he is now presiding over a process that is undermining his former colleagues and forcing payment of pending bills, including the ones he incurred in his county. We are operating in a season that everybody has been dictated that they must not talk. Some people, including some Members in this House, have told me that, “You are the Senate Majority Leader; you should not talk. You should not criticize what is happening.” History will judge this House if we do not do what Sen. Khaniri has said. If we do not stand in this House to defend devolution even when governors are not ready to defend it, history will judge us very harshly. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to challenge Members of this House to go to the HANSARD or ask people like Sen. Khaniri; even in the last term, for as long as something related to county governments was mentioned, I stood my position. I stood my ground even when I was a Deputy Majority Leader or the Chairperson of the Committee on Devolution. We must be consistent on something. I want people to say:- 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."
}