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{
    "id": 1175538,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1175538/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 114,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
    "speaker_title": "The Senator for Homa Bay County",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13162,
        "legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
        "slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
    },
    "content": "The nominated Senators sitting in front of me had a right to apply for the position of the Deputy Speaker of the Senate. The foundation upon which we start this Senate shall determine and dictate whether this Senate shall always look out for the rights of the marginalised and stand for the rule of the law. Mr. Clerk, my point of order is that we cannot disenfranchise one-third of this Senate and the 50 per cent of the population that is represented by the women Senators nominated to represent gender interests. We cannot disenfranchise 60 per cent of the population of this country who are the youth and are represented by the Senators nominated to represent them. My objection and what I would like you to clarify is that we should not proceed with the elections of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, until the rights of the nominated Members of the Senate have been respected and are accorded an opportunity to put in their applications. Mr. Clerk, we have very capable nominated Senators here. Sen. (Prof.) Kamar was our Deputy Speaker in the last Senate. I look across the aisle and see the Senator sitting on the Deputy Majority Leader Chair, whose composure and outlook shows that she can be a very good Deputy Speaker. Let us create an opportunity and a window for them to apply and then we do the right thing. I know someone will argue that it was the work of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to gazette the nominated Senators. The Senate cannot take wrong decisions because IEBC took the wrong decisions. Mr. Clerk, another objection is that applications were to be done 48 hours to this election. You amended it unilaterally in your notice and put the deadline to 2.30 p.m. of yesterday. I am not complaining about that. Whether it was at 2.30 p.m., the nominated Senators still did not have an opportunity to apply. As a House, we cannot do things unprocedurally and trample on the rights of our women and youth, simply because the IEBC decided to be lazy and run away from their duty. You have seen the kind of mess the IEBC has brought to this country. Mr. Clerk, let the foundation of this Senate, which some of us have sat in for quite some time, not be of impunity and denying the rights of our women and youth. It would be important the Clerk rules on this. My prayer would be that this exercise and this Order be suspended until everyone has been given an opportunity to participate in the rightful manner."
}