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{
    "id": 1267869,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1267869/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 84,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13582,
        "legal_name": "Wahome Wamatinga",
        "slug": "wahome-wamatinga"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also want to add my voice to this issue that has not only been affecting the business of the Committees. Indeed, a lot has been said about the legal implications and requirement. However, we especially on the Majority side have one obligation of representing and prosecuting government business. If the Cabinet Secretaries - who are the instruments through which the Executive formulates and implements the policy - are not prepared to come and answer basic questions that would help us prosecute the same to the people we represent, how do we even work? Considering there are a lot of legal implications that Sen. Oketch Gicheru has mentioned, I would want to disagree that it is a question of goodwill. Much of the work we aim to do in politics is about goodwill that is and should be there between the Members when it calls upon the Minority and Majority leaders to sit, close ranks and discuss issues that will ensure we advance and promote devolution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, at times it is very discouraging more so when we are in recess and are scheduled to meet a Cabinet Secretary in a committee. You travel all the way from up country only to be told that morning that he or she is not appearing. That has happened several times and there are some that are totally notorious. In the Standing Committee of Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, which I am member of, we have several issues and statements. I remember there was a statement by Sen. Wambua, which was requested last year in November about drought mitigation. We have not been able to address it up to now. At times it quite shameful when you are addressing an issue, which has been overtaken by events. You do not even know what to tell people. We have statements we need to look into, but without the Cabinet Secretaries input, we are lost. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the House and yourself have the power to engage maybe with the Presidency. This is because the excuse has been that a certain Cabinet Secretary had travelled or is travelling with the President or his Deputy. Most of the time it is the excuse we are given. At times, they are only travelling within the country. The business they are going to prosecute when they are going for those meetings are the same matters we want to discuss in the committees. Therefore, it hampers the business of the committees when we are not able to answer questions, prosecute any statements or to explain to petitioners and people who placed the statements what the official position is. My request to the Chair would be to use his position so that it does not become frustrating or demotivating for us, especially in the committees that we share. We are at times seen by Members of our committees as if we are shielding the Executive, yet we The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}