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{
    "id": 1282452,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1282452/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 76,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "However, we are all aware that as a House we were on recess, but we felt that given the urgency and importance that this Committee and the sacred nature of the assignment that is before them, it would be unfair to us as a House if we carried on with our recess and wait until mid of September to come and pass this Motion. We would continue to carry on the long wrongly-held belief that Senate is a second thought. The Senate of the Republic of Kenya is not a second thought. The people of Kenya bequeathed unto themselves this House and believe that it carries equal, if not even far more important powers, than that of the National Assembly, especially on matters that are of great national importance such as the one that is before us. It is in light of this that I sought the concurrence of our colleagues including the leadership of the Minority side. We then signed on to have this Special Sitting and consider this particular matter alongside other urgent business that is before us today. However, of importance is we get to sit down and seek the endorsement of our colleagues from Parliament. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you have heard me read from Article 1(2) of our Constitution that Parliament represents the diversity of our people. When we gather here, it is the gathering of all the 45 million Kenyans plus. Since it was not possible to have all of us as the people of Kenya gather in one place at one particular time and location, therefore, Kenyans elect their representatives. On many occasions, they speak either directly as a people or indirectly through their representatives. Through the donated power that these Members in this House carry, we are seeking the blessing of the people of Kenya to sit at a table and reason together. This is in follow for those of us that profess the Christian faith. We are urged many times in the Bible that our good Lord reminds us that when there are challenges, it is good to come, sit down and reason together. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is on that basis that we have had this opportunity to sit down and listen to one another. It does not mean that for all the things that are on the table, we shall eventually agree. However, at least there is nothing better than giving an ear to the person that holds a contrary view to whatever positions that you hold. Mr. Speaker, Sir, that is how great democracies are built by learning the art and the discipline of listening to one another even when you do not agree. Nations have gone to war because people stopped talking to one another and they felt that the only important noise is the sound of guns and bombs. That is not the route we want to take as a country. Kenya has existed as a Republic for over 60 years. It is not because those who were in leadership at that time did not face challenges. They did but found ways of surmounting them by coming together and reasoning. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in fact, I may be quite young and the truth of the matter is that I never saw the first President of this Republic; President Jomo Kenyatta. However, as a student in primary and high school before he retired, I saw through the leadership of President Moi, followed by President Mwai Kibaki. I had become an adult then. I also saw the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta who has just retired. We had the opportunity to serve in one political party. 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."
}