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{
"id": 1215311,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1215311/?format=api",
"text_counter": 120,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 13165,
"legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
"slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
},
"content": "because, out of the four positions that are granted, the Majority side will always divide two from the Senate and two from the National Assembly. It is our colleagues from the Minority side that can help us to pass the point to the leadership of their parties to understand that in a particular term of Parliament, if you give out your three slots to PSC; two to the National Assembly, this term, then it follows that in the subsequent term, the two commissioners should come from the other House. I wish they were here when I spoke about this. I remember Members canvassing on his point when we first came into this House. It is unfortunate that in the last three sessions, the Minority side has always sent two representatives from the National Assembly and one from the Senate to the PSC. Therefore, tilting the balance of scale more to the side of the National Assembly. ` I am glad that the nomination of Sen. Muthama attempts to bring some equity and equilibrium in this conversation. There are matters to be discussed and important decisions that are made in PSC that affect our welfare, wellbeing and how we execute and live up to the constitutional responsibility that we have been granted by the people of Kenya, as Members of Parliament (MPs). Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to challenge our colleagues who sit in PSC, as soon as this House dispense of this matter to have a conversation with Sen. Muthama. Let him know that as Senate, we look up to him, having been our colleague, to advance the interest of Parliament and the public that he represents. It is, therefore, important that our place in PSC is guaranteed and the many different decisions that are made in PSC are upheld in favour of us as a House. This is because we, unfortunately, suffer the constitutional design of not being the House that controls the purse. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you know what Chinua Achebe said about the yam and the knife. He who has the knife determines the size of the yam that they are going to share with you. That is the unfortunate situation we find ourselves. We neither have the knife nor the yam. On many occasions, as Senate, we feel short-changed. However, we have progressively, over the years, succeeded in being at par with our colleagues from the National Assembly on many fronts. I celebrate the work that the PSC has done. I wish Sen. Muthama well as he serves us, as Parliament, and as he represents the views of the public. Finally, Parliament must have an introspective attitude despite the fact that the Constitution grants its enormous powers. For example, it can control the budget of the country which is presented before it. Many times, we, as Parliament, find ourselves in situations where there are excesses on our side and forget the unique situation we find ourselves in as a country. The entire globe is suffering from an economic recession and as a country, we are particularly affected because of our debt situation. I know as they budget and make plans and considerations, they will always remember the number one thing that also the Senators have continued to speak passionately about. That is the issue of the Senate Oversight Fund, which unfortunately,"
}