Kimani Wairiri for Nyandarua Senate

“I support a body of Senators that will check County elected officials and ensure no wastage occurs of the Kshs 3 billion allocated to each County a total amount of Kshs 143 billion ,” says Kimani Wairiri currently in Texas, U.S. who is looking forward to run for the Senate seat for Nyandarua County through the platform advanced by Diaspora 2012 candidates. Kimani adds, “On pay, the platform by Diaspora 2012 candidates, should have all legislators pay brought to the level of Medical Doctors and University Professors employed by the Kenya government.” Mr. Kimani Wairiri pay system implemented would mean the current budget of about Kshs 2.76 billion being used by the current parliament would be enough to pay the new 416 legislators. This would solve Hon. Kioni concern that Kshs 1 million a month that amounts to Kshs 12 million a year pay for 416 seats would mean a pay budget of Kshs 4.992 billion a year.

The Platform advanced by Kenyans from Diaspora to grow the economy from the current Kshs 5 trillion economy to Kshs 10 trillion gradually in 5 years 2012 - 2017 once the electorate elect this platfrom would also attach any salary increase on performance to growth. Such that every year the increase would be based on Gross Domestic Product GDP growth rate during that year. The platform argument is that as GDP increases so will the tax collected. In the last 5 years the GDP growth after factoring population growth has been very little. To achieve tax growth the current legislative body has resulted to food price hikes. After spending more than Kshs 12 billion in tax payers money they have generated no results.     

Some in the Diaspora who see the necessity of the Senate system inorder to safeguard the Kshs 143 billion from wastage doubt sincerity of proposals as based public interest and ask, “How comes he has never been mentioned as one who was the first to abide to paying tax? Has he paid tax?” They see this as just an opportunity for publicity or creation of a story where he proposes an initiative that others reject.

Looking closely at the role of senate will play as defined in constitution article 96.

Role of Senate Constitution Article 96   

1. The Senate represents the counties, and serves to protect the interests of the counties and their governments.
2. The Senate participates in the law-making function of Parliament by considering, debating and approving Bills concerning counties, as provided in Articles 109 to 113.
3. The Senate determines the allocation of national revenue among counties, as provided in Article 217, and exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to the county governments.
4. The Senate participates in the oversight of State officers by considering and determining any resolution to remove the President or Deputy President from office in accordance with Article 145.

Based on the role of senate there is a thinking emerging that the motive behind the proposal is to ensure that the Governor seat is not made accountable to the Senate. Article 96 (3) grants the collective body of senators the oversight power of the allocation of Kshs 3 billion to each county and Kshs 143 billion as the collective total. The argument is that many aspirants of Governor thought that the Kshs 3 billion would be under their power and the senator from their county but have now realized that the senate as a body has oversight of Kshs 143 billion and any senator can oversee any county. The arguement further adds that to make sure the corruption system some current MPs desiring to run for Governor are used to, the senate needs to be eliminated.