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{
    "id": 1371766,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1371766/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 133,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13599,
        "legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
        "slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
    },
    "content": "In the view of the residents of Ofafa Jericho, what the county government calls public participation is not. They have never been consulted on this project, yet they are the ones meant to cede their land; land they have lived on for years even before some of us were born for this project to go ahead. However, when we summon the county governor, he does not appear. What are we supposed to do as Members of the Committee and Senators in this House? That is why I strongly urge our colleagues in this House. This is a frustration we all go through in our committees and even in this House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also serve in the Senate Business Committee (SBC). We receive Questions for Cabinet Secretaries from our colleagues and sometimes we are at pains to schedule Questions. At times, many Cabinet Secretaries send word to the Speaker a day before they are scheduled to appear before this House that they will not appear. I was looking at the schedule of Questions yesterday. Some of the Questions relate to matters that are long gone. Even if the Cabinet Secretary appeared now, it would not be a current conversation to have in the Republic today. What is this House supposed to do? Given my short experience that I have been the Senator for Nairobi City, I strongly suggest and urge Members of this House to support these amendments. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there was one incident I have never forgotten, where one of the committees imposed a fine that is currently in the books. That is Kshs500,000. The governor asked our committee clerk if the committee has a pay bill or till number. This is because the amount imposed is very minimal and can fit in your Mpesa account. For them, money is not a problem. They would rather ignore summons of the House and committees and ask who their treasurer is, where to send the money or the Mpesa number. Sen. Osotsi’s proposal that this fine be enhanced to at least Kshs2 million is welcome, and we must all support it. We have also struggled with this question of arrests. I heard Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale ask how we should facilitate these arrests. For as long as this House or the institution of Parliament relies on any other Government agency or institution to make sure that its business goes on, it will never happen. We need this institution to have the powers to arrest people and present witnesses before the committees. I am in full support of the proposition by Sen. Osotsi to give this House those powers. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I know you will exercise these powers judiciously. You will not be doing the kamata kamata Friday that we have seen other agencies do. This will be specifically---"
}