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{
    "id": 1452800,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1452800/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 190,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dagoretti South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Kiarie",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "back to a situation where we are unable to counter the issue of conflict of interest. For that reason, I object to the Senate amendments. The issue that is being canvassed in the country today is actually us being called to order. As a Republic, at a point like this, when we are asking ourselves about the conflict of interest, even our Constitution is ready for an audit. It has been with us for some good 15 years. So, at this point, we should ask ourselves how it has served us in the last 15 years. When we audit the Constitution, we shall put the Senate on the spot. We shall ask ourselves whether its composition, as it is now, is serving Kenyans. In my mind, some amendments to the Constitution will occasion us to relook at how the Senate is constituted. It is required to attend to county matters. Even as the Gen-Zs are calling out the rot in the national Government, we know that there are bigger problems in the counties. If the Senate was true to its roles, it would have gone to the county governments and checked the rot that is happening in the executives and the conflict of interest that is happening through the businesses that are being conducted in the counties. I object vehemently. As we look at matters of conflict of interest, this is the right time for this country to have a conversation with itself on how the Constitution has served us for the last 15 years. I believe that if we were to relook at how the Senate is composed, as a country, we might decide to borrow a leaf from jurisdictions like the United Kingdom (UK), where the House of Commons has its job cut out. The Senate is reserved for very esteemed people and citizens. If we were to re-compose our Senate, we might decide to reserve it for Kenyans who have diligently served in specific areas. Such people should be the ones to be nominated to the Senate. So, it is a proper nyumba ya wazee which advises the country on very topical and technical issues from a point of information. At times, the Senate finds itself with no business to prosecute other than meddle with the work that is being done by the National Assembly. As such, they use their time doing what we have before us this afternoon. I object to the amendments that have been made by the Senate and support the Motion as amended and moved by the Leader of the Majority Party. Thank you very much."
}