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{
    "id": 1370352,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1370352/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 96,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support this Motion from the onset. The Senators who have been nominated to sit in this Committee are people who did a good job in the First Session. I am sure they will do a better job in this Session. The SBC is a very important Committee to this House because it is the front end to the Plenary where we sit. I encourage the SBC to prioritise matters which are key to the functioning of this Senate. In the last Session, I was disappointed that this House took too long to process the County Governments Additional Allocation Bill. It sat on the Order Paper for so long. I thought this was one Bills that should have been given the highest level of priority, considering that it was going to unlock funds to our counties. I encourage that Bills, Motions or items that are of high priority should be given high priority so that we dispense with them. The SBC will also help us implement Article 96 of the Constitution to protect counties. All the matters that come before us must be weighed against that premise of Article 96, that the matters which come before us are those which will enhance devolution and not take us back to those days before devolution. I have seen some Bills on the Order Paper, whose contents either have unconstitutional aspects or defeat the very purpose of our role under Article 96. So, we depend on the SBC for that purpose. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as someone has said, Parliament - the National Assembly and the Senate - is the only institution in this country that has the powers to make laws. We are starting to see a trend where laws are made without the involvement of this House. We make laws here either through the Bills we process or the delegated legislation that we approve in this House. We want that to go on. We do not want to see a scenario where laws are made through directives by Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) or by those in authority. The House must rise to the occasion and protect the integrity of Parliament by ensuring that all laws that are not made by this House are declared null and void. Allow me to also convey a message of condolence to the family of Kelvin Kiptum, who was a great athlete in this country. While we were away, my good neighbour and senior brother, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, lost his long serving employee, Mr. Kizito Moi. On behalf of Senators and being a neighbour, I also say pole to Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale for losing his long serving employee. Thank you and I support."
}