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{
    "id": 1442450,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1442450/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 151,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "I know there is wisdom in adjournment. However, the Chamber is somehow functional. I have seen on a lighter note that some of us have been having reservations about the food served here. I saw the Gen Zs saying that the Chef of Bunge should look at the recipe because they are putting too much pilipili in it. Our hospitality services are still functional. They are up to 80 per cent functional. I know our staff were also affected. We are with them in prayers and thoughts. I know some of them were attacked in their offices, but we are praying with them through the Clerk. We are happy that they have the courage to be here with us. This is when leadership is needed more than ever. So, if everybody closes, imagine if the Judiciary today adjourns for one month. You have heard the Chief Justice saying, “we can even do extra hours in case there are people being brought to court.” The Judiciary has even said; “let us sit beyond normal times.” The Executive is working beyond the normal time. Now, Parliament, where we have the representatives of the people, they are now going home to hide. It is unfair for the country when the Judiciary and the Executive provide leadership. Parliament, as the people’s representatives, we, should even be sitting beyond our normal hours of operation, burn the midnight oil and be part of the people who will resolve the crisis. I think we need to be serious. Under Article 37 of the Constitution, every person has a right to demonstrate. However, we want to ask people who demonstrate to do so peacefully and within the confines of the rule of law. We want to also ask the security agencies within the country to also have proper intelligence. This calls into question the role of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). If they knew Parliament would be under siege, they should have looked into the issues of the number of police and organization of security structure, including the barricades and many others. They should have planned properly so that we would not have witnessed that situation where Parliament was invaded, where it would be desecrated. In some democracies, it shows that we have lost legitimacy of the people despite the fact that we were elected. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the security apparatus within the country should also be on the lookout. While we empathize and sympathize with the police, I have seen a police officer who lost his hands the other day and he is admitted. I empathize with him. One lost his life last night in Githurai and a number of them have been injured across the country. While we empathize and sympathize with the police officers, we ask the police command and security agencies also to be well organized. In future, even if criminals want to infiltrate in these peaceful demonstrations, they can be isolated and dealt with. Let the criminals be dealt with as per the law and within the law. I really want to plead that as Parliament, this is the moment we need to provide leadership. As Winston Churchill said, the person who matters is the person in the ring; that has sweat and blood in trying and resolving crisis. When in crisis, this is when leaders are made. This is when leadership is shown. The Senate Minority Leader, it is not okay for us to adjourn and go home to do our own things and watch events as they unfold through social media; TikTok, Viewsasa or any other outlets. 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 and AudioServices, Senate."
}