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{
    "id": 1028769,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1028769/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 49,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": "to Bills that have been declared a nullity. You know impunity in this country, Sen. Orengo, sometimes takes very dangerous routes. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we must caution ourselves constantly that anybody who will say let us have a retrospective concurrence will never go that route. Those Bills, however well meaning, must go through the mill again. That is publication, First Reading, Second Reading and Third Reading with a prerequisite concurrence from both Speakers. Mr. Speaker, Sir, so that I leave time for other Members to speak, this House is still under threat. It is still in a cage. The best thing that we can talk about BBI on the Senate is that nobody has attempted to interfere with Article 110(3) in the BBI. That remains our shield and defender; that we will always have Article 110(3) and this judgement to our defense. Sen. Farhiya thinks that I am alerting them. Even if they go the wrong way, we will go to court again. The courts are there and they have made a landmark ruling. I urge that going forward even with BBI process, we must defend this House. We cannot be harmonizing and strengthening a bicameral structure that does not respect bicameralism. That is including, but not limited to the power being given to the National Assembly to veto the Division of Revenue. That is almost the most important legislation that comes to this House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, today as I speak on this judgement, I salute the three judges of the High Court, Senator Senior Counsel and my distinguished learned Senior Sen. Orengo for leading the team, and everybody else who participated in one way or another, including those who gave the moral support, by walking all the way from here to the High Court at Milimani to witness us filing the case. Mr. Speaker, Sir, intimidations may come, but stand firm because history is never written by cowards. History is written by strong and firm people. As one great writer said ‘history is written by the winners.’ We have won and we are writing history. Those who will follow will remember that there was a second Senate in the second Constitution of Kenya that stood to be counted. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this House will have no other defender, but itself. I have heard my colleagues like my distinguished nephew Sen. Sakaja who used to throw stones at this House in the last Parliament now come and say we now realize how important this House is and how it must be defended at all costs. We are ready to stand firm and defend it."
}