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{
    "id": 1225326,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1225326/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 412,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "(ii) Orders that the amendments to the Standing Orders as contained in Appendix 2 to the Report come into effect on the 11th April, 2023. This Motion is after very good work that was done by our Committee on Procedures and Rules chaired by the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. They sat down and considered various amendments that had been proposed to the Standing Orders including amendments that had been proposed by some Members of the Minority side. The Committee deliberated on the matters that were brought before it, listened to the wisdom of those who had proposed the amendments and proceeded to make a conclusion. I am hereby requesting the House that we do agree with the proposal that is being made by the Committee to allow the amendments as have been proposed. This is a beautiful amendment and I know for a fact that our colleagues in the National Assembly have considered similar amendments. As we speak, they have made it possible that beginning next week, Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) will be allowed into the plenary of the National Assembly to respond to topical issues and matters affecting citizens directly as opposed to the only available platform where Members sometimes have got to wait to make Statement, request a committee which then goes to deliberate on that matter. Sometimes the Senator who has made that request on behalf of his constituents is not even allowed to appear before the committee. This is an additional mechanism for Senators to avail themselves to this House every Wednesday from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and invite Cabinet Secretaries who have questions to answer before this House to sit at the designated place where it will be determined as per the rules of the Speaker and respond to questions and supplementary questions that are being raised by Members of the Senate. I do not see how that infringes on the rights of the Members of this Senate who feel for one reason or the other that they do not want Cabinet Secretaries to come to this House to respond to questions. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, this is enhancing the practice of democracy. This is accountability at a very high level. I would wish to challenge my colleagues on the Minority side who have a problem with this to perhaps consult with their colleagues on the Minority side of the National Assembly who chose to agree with this report such that if we do not agree today with what the Committee is telling us---Can you imagine a situation where you would find---"
}