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{
    "id": 1564022,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564022/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 142,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Omogeni",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13219,
        "legal_name": "Erick Okong'o Mogeni",
        "slug": "erick-okongo-mogeni"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to also make my contribution to the statements issued by the respective chairpersons. However, there is one that has caught my attention. While contributing, I heard Sen. Cherarkey state that the approval of nominees to IEBC should be processed by the National Assembly and referred to the Senate for approval. This issue is one that we should address honestly and consciously as a Senate because what happened in Naivasha was a travesty of justice. When the committee of experts went to Naivasha, the Members of the National Assembly totally mutilated the oversight and legislative mandate of the Senate. I have read the report at page two and it says that once the National Assembly has considered the nominees, it should forward the names to the Senate for their input and also approval. If you read Article 250 of the Constitution, it states in black and white that each commission shall consist of at least three, but not more than nine members and the chairperson and each member of a commission shall be approved by the National Assembly. So, clearly the way Article 250 is worded, the Senate of the Republic of Kenya has been left out of a very critical process. The time has come for us, as Kenyans, and also as parliamentarians, to do a serious audit and have a Constitution that is meant to serve a bicameral parliament. Sen. Cherarkey, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale; all of us enjoy direct mandate from the people. We are elected directly by the people not like the UK where one gets an honorary appointment to serve in the House of Lords. I want to draw that to the attention of the House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is an opportune moment for us to audit this Constitution and make it one that can serve a bicameral parliament that has the National Assembly and the Senate."
}