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{
"id": 1509262,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1509262/?format=api",
"text_counter": 892,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 13165,
"legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
"slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
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"content": " Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise to move the following Motion, the adjournment of the Senate. THAT, pursuant to Standing Order No.31(3), the Senate do adjourn until Tuesday, 11th February, 2025. It gives me great pleasure to do this. I appreciate all the hon. Senators who have worked extremely hard during this session to make sure that we have had a fantastic session of the Senate. We have debated and handled matters of grave national importance The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1509263,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1509263/?format=api",
"text_counter": 893,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 13165,
"legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
"slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
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"content": "with such decorum and admiration that made many citizens appreciate the wisdom that brings together this House. Madam Temporary Speaker, we have considered many Bills that are people- centric and institution-sensitive like the Bill to give autonomy to county assemblies and which is now before the National Assembly. We have handled the Tea (Amendment) Bill, Coffee and Sugar Bills for our farmers. There is so much we have done that today, as I retire to bed, I retire a proud Majority Leader; appreciating all the 67 of us for the diligence and industry we have showcased in the last few months in working and earning deservedly the right to be truly called honourable. We have ensured that we stand up for devolution. I am extremely proud that despite the very tight fiscal space we find ourselves in, this House first fought for Kshs400 billion to be sent to our county governments. Unfortunately, as per the dictates of Article 219, it is not only in our space alone as a Senate to determine this, but also, we have to do it jointly with the National Assembly. Therefore, we pushed and pulled until eventually we settled at Kshs387 billion, which is Kshs12.7 billion less than what we had anticipated. Madam Temporary Speaker, we live in this country, and know how difficult a season we find ourselves in, in the fiscal space of this republic. Therefore, I am still proud that we have pushed that amount of money. Now, duty goes to the governors, who have to show Kshs387.5 worth of development, in all our 47 county governments, Madam Temporary Speaker. Yesterday I had a conversation with the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, and he informs me that the National Treasury has disbursed all the shareable revenue that is due to county governments, to all the 47 county governments up to October. There are some that have even received for the month of November. Madam Temporary Speaker, I do not think in our history we have worked that close, to being on a month-by-month disbursement. Notably, this is being done despite all the challenges that this country is going through to show the commitment and dedication of this administration, in ensuring that devolution succeeds. I am also informed that there is Kshs60 billion, that is at the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in the County Revenue Fund (CRF) account of all our 47 governments, consisting of different amounts for different counties, money that would otherwise have been used. I would like to urge the governors, that, before you break for Christmas, please make sure that you use up the Kshs60 billion that is before the CBK, belonging to various county governments at various stages. I have also seen a report this afternoon that the Controller of Budget is alleging that there are about 10 counties that have spent zero on development expenditure in the last few months. I will await to read that report to probably understand and put it to context. I have also seen a rejoinder from the Council of Governors. We live in the age of fake news; therefore, I would not wish to react quickly. However, I want to challenge the Controller of Budget that this House has raised grave concerns with operations of that particular office. It is my sincere hope that before we return from recess, that the Speaker will actually convince us into a meeting and a mediation among the Council of The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1509264,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1509264/?format=api",
"text_counter": 894,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 13165,
"legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
"slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
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"content": "Governors, the Senate and the Control of Budget with regards to the success of devolution. That meeting is long overdue because we have serious issues that we need to be addressed. We hope that can be presented in a proper meeting where as adults we can face each other if there are legislative gaps that need to be filled up. When I said this earlier, Madam (Dr.) Margaret Nyakang’o reached out to me and shared her thoughts on it and said it is not just her office alone. That, you need to bring in CBK and so many other institutions that need to resolve that issue, particularly on the decentralization of services so that we do not have 47 County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) trooping to Nairobi with papers waiting for approval. Therefore, Madam Temporary Speaker, I would like to challenge Sen. Roba and the Members of the Senate Standing Committee on Budget and Finance Committee that, they need to lead us in that particular discussion. There are many things that I could say. Lastly, I would like to celebrate the industry that I have seen in this House the last two days where we have legislated. Apart from debate, many people do not know that there is actually lawmaking that goes on where you debate, you remove certain clauses and agree to certain amendments. That has been happening in this House. Madam Temporary Speaker, I thank all the Senators that have participated in the last few days in ensuring that this comes to pass. With all those remarks, I want to wish Senators, members of staff, and the people that work around the clock to ensure that this institution succeeds a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, just in case we do not meet. However, you never know. I have moved adjournment Motions before and gone on to celebrate my holiday together with family and friends, only to be recalled when duty calls. So be on standby; Sen. Githuku, and Sen. Faki, please be on standby because you never know. I also wish the Senators and Members of Parliament who are participating in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Games well, as they troop to Mombasa tomorrow. Bring as much glory to the country as possible, interact, widen and deepen integration with regards to the East African Legislative Assembly Games and so many things that we need to do. Madam Temporary Speaker, with those many remarks, I beg to move and request the Senator for Migori, Sen. Eddy Okech Gicheru, to second this Motion."
},
{
"id": 1509265,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1509265/?format=api",
"text_counter": 895,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Oketch Gicheru",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, it is an honour indeed to second this Motion, which indeed I second. I second it because this has been a very tough year, in so many ways. In the middle of the year, we could not reflect on whether the last part of the year and where we could be heading towards the end of this year could go the way it has gone. Let me just join in the voice of the Senate Majority Leader to congratulate all the Members of the Senate for standing up to several things in this country. First, when the country was faced with many challenges and could not figure out some stability, the Senate stepped up and gave the country some hope. I get a lot of feedback from different institutions, both of government, corporate, and civil society, that the Senate stands as a very serious House of hope, and not just The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1509266,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1509266/?format=api",
"text_counter": 896,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Oketch Gicheru",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "hope, but also a place where they see as a place of getting recourse when the country is facing a lot of challenges. Secondly, let me also take this chance to thank the leadership of the House starting from the Speaker and also the Speaker's Panel. This also goes to the Senate Business Committee (SBC) which helps us figure out our business every day. We have tried to prioritize several issues that we have canvassed through that have made a lot of impact in terms of the lives of our people. This is exemplified indeed by what happened between yesterday and today, where we have managed, to the surprise of many, to mobilize all Senators to pass the County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA). We passed the Division of Revenue Act (DoRA) at the right time. The Cash Disbursement Schedule was also passed at the right time and all the Bills that have been passed here. This could not have been possible without the leadership of the House, starting from the Speaker, going to the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, the Senate Deputy Majority and Deputy Minority Leaders, and the Senate Majority and Minority Whips. On my side, my leadership has been very amazing in terms of just making sure that we can make sense of our duty under Article 96 of our Constitution. I want to appreciate specifically the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Steward Madzayo; my Whip, Sen. Ledama Olekina; my Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Wambua, as well as Sen. Sifuna, for the leadership that they have given us to make sure that we can make sense of everything. I do not want to say much because I know that one or two Senators might want to say one or two, three things, but there is one thing that the Senate Minority Whip brought to this House, and even as we go on recess, I wanted us to not lose sight of it. I wanted to beg the Senate Majority Leader to provide leadership on this issue of pending bills. Even though we have passed some very essential Bills in this House, the issue of pending bills is tantamount to what the Senate Majority Leader has talked about, absorption rates of development money in counties. I checked the report, and in my county, in the last quarter, what the County Assembly had passed as a target for development was 36 per cent. In the report that has just come out from the Controller of Budget (CoB), we have 22 per cent that was used in development. That is even lower than the required 30 per cent. I think this is happening because of the accumulation of serious pending bills. For instance, in Migori County, we have Kshs1.5 billion pending bills, and Kshs1 billion was accrued in the last financial year. Madam Temporary Speaker, therefore, this House must stand on the interpretation of Article 228 (5). As a Senate, we should go to the Supreme Court to get a judicial review to make sure that we have the Controller of Budget (COB) indeed controlling the budgets of our counties. Without that interpretation, we are going to continue having serious, skyrocketing pending bills that we might never be able to deal with. If you were to seek a recourse on Article 225, where the Cabinet Secretary is be able to stop some funds going to counties, you cannot do it without the COB taking control of overseeing the implementation of budgets in our counties. I urge Senators not lose sight of this one thing. The Minority Whip raised it, but we have not taken it seriously. If we do not address it, pending bills is going to be a growing concern that will The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1509267,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1509267/?format=api",
"text_counter": 897,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Oketch Gicheru",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "make the viability of our counties completely not possible. That is the only thing I have to say. I also want to wish well all my fellow Senators. I wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, but most importantly, enjoy your time in Mombasa. Make sure that you get fitter. Sen. Cherarkey, make sure you help us in whatever sport that you are taking. I do not know whether you are playing a sport called Ajua. Whatever sport that you are taking, make sure that the country wins. Madam Temporary Speaker, with those few remarks, I second. Thank you."
},
{
"id": 1509268,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1509268/?format=api",
"text_counter": 898,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Veronica Maina",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Sen. Eddy."
},
{
"id": 1509269,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1509269/?format=api",
"text_counter": 899,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Question proposed)"
},
{
"id": 1509270,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1509270/?format=api",
"text_counter": 900,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Veronica Maina",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Hon. Senators, I have requests from Senators who wish to contribute to this Motion. I would propose that we agree because we have very few minutes and there are four Senators who would wish to contribute on the Motion. Can we do that in the few minutes?"
},
{
"id": 1509271,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1509271/?format=api",
"text_counter": 901,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Sen. Cheruiyot spoke off record)"
}
]
}