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{
    "id": 1066673,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1066673/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 111,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wako",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 366,
        "legal_name": "Amos Sitswila Wako",
        "slug": "amos-wako"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. I will not go into the history because that has been outlined clearly by Sen. Wetangula, Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. and others. We have had an experience of this House sitting in Plenary to investigate a matter. We have also had the experience of going by a special committee report. Speaking as a lawyer, I am more inclined towards a special committee delving into this matter. This is because in situations where we have had special committees delving into the matters, at least, the House has had a full report on each and every allegation that has come before us, the evidence seen and what they decided. We do not get full reports when it comes to plenary way by the very nature of the plenary. There is also a tendency of issues being highly political when it is plenary rather than a committee. As a Senior Counsel, former Chairman of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), former Chairman of the African Bar Association (AFBA), former Secretary-General of the International Bar Association (IBA) and, of course, Attorney-General emeritus, I am inclined towards a committee. That is why we, as a House, should consider making some slight amendments to our Standing Orders. I detect a fear that if the matter goes before a committee and it decides that the allegations have not been substantiated, that is the end of the matter and the rest of the Senators will not have a say. In other words, it is possible that the matter can be killed at the special committee. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in future, in order to remove that fear, we should allow this House either to approve or disapprove the recommendations of a special committee and not give it the wherewithal, where they can kill the investigations. As long as the Standing Orders remain as they are, we should be more careful. I have heard people say that most Members do not have the habit of reading. Whether a matter is in a committee or Plenary, they will not read but just go by the wave. Let us appoint people to the committee who are prepared to read, work and give us a good report, and not just have one or two Members of the committee working so hard and the rest are there to just approve whatever the one or two hard workers say. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as a lawyer, I am inclined to go the committee way. I thank you. 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."
}