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{
    "id": 358439,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/358439/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 104,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "the Senate for various reasons. I want to refer to Articles 95 and 96 of the Constitution. Article 96 gives the Senate only three roles, and all of them have to do with the counties. Those roles include allocation of revenue to the counties and representing them to ensure fairness. If the National Assembly plans to remove the President or the Deputy President from office, the Senate should also be consulted. Other than those three functions, the Constitution gives the Senate no other responsibility. In their wisdom, Kenyans created the Senate for purposes of devolution. Those of us who were at the Bomas of Kenya during the constitutional review process tried to make this fact known very well. The creation of the Senate was only for the purposes of devolution. That is why they are there to fight for the counties to get a fair share of the national revenue. The Senate is responsible for only 15 per cent of the national Budget whereas the National Assembly is responsible for the appropriation of 85 per cent of National Budget. Therefore, when you talk about the superiority between the two Houses of Parliament, Kenyans are wise enough. Hon. Speaker, Sir, you must make it very clear in your ruling because the Senators have even gone a notch higher to claim responsibility of controlling the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). They do not want Members of the National Assembly to control the CDF. They are interfering with a very serious responsibility that we have been given by the Constitution. As hon. Ababu Namwamba said, the UK is already running away from that old system where kings and lords loaded it over the commoners. The UK is trying to run away from that system. Unfortunately, our Senators want to compare themselves with the UK kings of those times, when everybody else in the world is running away from that system. Therefore, hon. Speaker, you must make this very clear in your ruling because we are following the Constitution. Under Article 95 of the Constitution, the role of the National Assembly is very clear for everybody to see. Let us follow the Constitution. Let us put the National Assembly in its rightful place and let the Senate play its role of trying to convince the National Assembly to allocate more revenue to the counties and make sure that there is a balance. When the National Assembly considers Motions to remove the President or the Deputy President from office, the Senate can be asked to give advice. Thank you, Hon. Speaker, Sir."
}