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{
    "id": 1160615,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1160615/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 24,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for that Communication, which is timely. We were operating outside the Standing Orders. The Standing Orders give the permissive will to the Speaker to declare a session to be held both virtually and physical, or not. That should be decided from time to time. It was necessary for that period of time that the SBC proposed that we needed to have virtual sittings. Virtual sessions are far less beneficial as compared to physical presence. They have been beneficial to the extent that we can vote virtually. However, other than that, we need to restore how Parliament should operate, particularly now that we are getting to the end of term of this Senate. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I know that Sen. M. Kajwang’ had some concerns about the need for virtual sittings. You have clarified that Standing Order No.251 is clear; that the SBC can meet, and with the permission of the Speaker, a virtual sitting can be called at any time within this period. The advantage is that committees, including the SBC, can meet virtually. That decision is not difficult to make. Other than that, in the next Senate, more emphasis should be laid on physical sittings of the Senate because the other one encourages laziness. Remember we draw allowances from the people of Kenya, particularly transport allowance, that is, mileage, as a result of being physically in this Chamber. We cannot have our cake and eat it by sitting somewhere virtually in Iten, in Elgeyo-Marakwet and at the same time, pretend to have been in the Senate in Nairobi. This rule should be observed with a lot of commitment from our side. By the time the Speaker makes a certain declaration that a Senate sitting will be done virtually, it should be on exceptional circumstances that can be justified. It should not just be for any other situation. Parliament must be Parliament. Just imagine a Senator or Congressman of the United States of America (USA), where we have the Senate and the House of Representative, perpetually meeting virtually. Nobody is sitting here and we are claiming to be attending virtually. I do not think it gives the traditional meaning of what Parliament should be. That was an extraordinary situation and it must be kept as such. Standing Order No. 251 should be applied in exceptional circumstances."
}