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"id": 1242704,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale",
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"legal_name": "Bonny Khalwale",
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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is envisaged that the Second Reading debate on the County Allocation of Revenue Bill (Senate Bills No.16 of 2023) will commence on 30th May, 2023, being a Tuesday. I hope that the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget will table a report thereon so as to inform Senators during the Second Reading. On the other hand, the Equalization Fund Appropriation Bill (Senate Bills No.3 of 2023) is scheduled in today’s Order Paper, at the Committee of the Whole, for Division. I, therefore, urge all hon. Senators to be available in the Senate to consider and pass this very important Bill. The Equalization Fund Administration Bill will be scheduled in the Order Paper from 5th June, 2023, or at any other earlier time that the Senate Business Committee (SBC) so directs, of course, in consultation with its Mover. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with respect to other Bills in the Senate, a further 19, in addition to the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2023, and the Equalization Fund Administration Bill, 2023, are at the Second Reading Stage, while another four, together with the Equalization Fund Appropriations Bill are in the Committee of the Whole Stage. Four Bills are undergoing concurrence pursuant to Article 110(3) of the Constitution and one other Bill was enacted into law and is now an Act of Parliament. This adds up to a total of 31 Bills in the Senate. From the above statistics, however, we are moving at a rather slow pace in consideration and passage of Bills. I, therefore, implore upon hon. Senators to prioritise House business in Plenary and that Movers of Bills to be available in the Chamber whenever the Bills are listed on the Order Paper. I also request the Majority and Minority Whips to mobilise requisite number of Senators for Divisions on Bills to be undertaken in a timely manner. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, other businesses before the Senate include 19 Petitions and various Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.53 and Standing Order No.52. I urge Standing Committees to expedite the consideration of Petitions and Statements and to table reports pursuant to the Standing Orders. There are 20 Motions on diverse topics, which are also pending consideration. I urge the respective Movers of these Motions to be in the Chamber whenever they are scheduled on the Order Paper. As Senators will recall, the Speaker issued a Communication on 2nd May, 2023, whose effect was that Standing Order No.64(3) would apply in the event that a Mover of a business scheduled on the Order Paper is not present in the Chamber at the time specified. In this regard, I take this opportunity to urge all hon. Members with business scheduled in the Order Paper to be in the House to prosecute those businesses. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the procedure for consideration of Questions is taking root. At its meeting held on 23rd May, 2023, the SBC approved the fourth set of Questions to be scheduled in the Order Paper and the summary of those Questions and the Cabinet Secretaries to appear are as follows- (1) Question by the nominated Senator, Sen. Veronica Maina, MP, to the Cabinet Secretary for Mining Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, concerning the suitability and capacity of Bandari College to train seafarers."
}