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{
    "id": 594065,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/594065/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 230,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "October 21, 2015 SENATE DEBATES 26 Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank hon. Senators for their very weighty contributions and support for this Motion. We, as a House, have been left to just writing lamentations for a long time. The Constitution provides mechanisms for resolving every problem that comes. There is no need to continue writing other books of lamentations. It is time for us to take our responsibilities more seriously, provide direction for the country and ensure that we have a Constitution that is responsive to the challenges of our time. I know there are many people who have wondered whether this is the right time for us to amend the Constitution. I have said before that five years down the line, we, the wearers of the shoe are now convinced that it is time to adjust the areas that we think are pinching us and also add certain areas that we thing can bring more benefit to the people of Kenya. The Constitution provides clearly that when interpreting it, we must look at it from the perspective of a living document that can grow and meet certain expectations. Even then, there is a limit to how and what you can do in terms of interpreting the Constitution. Therefore, this is why it is important that even if the courts were to stretch their interpretation to whatever extent like they did in the Supreme Court Advisory Opinion on request of this House, there is a limit to that. Therefore, we, as a House, must provide the tools and legal provisions that will support and strengthen the senate. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, many people have also asked if it is the right time for us to go to a referendum and whether it is a question of Jubilee or Coalition for reforms and Democracy (CORD). Historical processes and documents require unique persons who are willing to stand in the gap during challenging times. This House has the necessary skilled persons to provide leadership at the moment. I have said this and I repeat without any fear of contradiction, that there is a reason the calibre of persons elected to this House are those of immense knowledge and experience like the two senior counsels who are consulting there, Sen. Orengo and Sen. Wako. If the people of Kenya had doubt about the seriousness and importance of this House, they would have definitely never elected Sen. Wako and Sen. Orengo. They would have never elected you, a renowned lawyer and former ambassador. They would have never elected many of the other people like Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki who is the Senate Majority Leader and a professor of law. You can see the king of Meru County, Sen. Murungi; a Harvard trained lawyer. They are all in this House. You can see Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo, a professor of mathematics, and the Pokots were not ignorant when they decided to elect him. They did so, because they believed that this is a serious House. You can see the renowned surveyor from Embu County, Sen. Kivuti, one of the most hard working Kenyans. You can see Sen. Karaba sitting here and the most experienced and well-travelled teacher all over the world. You can see Sen. Ong’era, a dedicated public servant and an astute politician. I can say a lot about so many of us here, including Sen. Omondi, a very serious defender of persons with disability and very many other vocal persons who earned their positions to be here. Even the bull fighter himself – although once in a while I think because of his experience in bull fighting – is a renowned doctor."
}