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{
    "id": 358445,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/358445/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 110,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "An hon. Member",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Speaker, Sir. I want to first of all thank my colleagues who have contributed to this debate. Indeed, I realize that what we are doing here this afternoon is per Article 94(4) of our Constitution. It states thus: “Parliament shall protect this Constitution and promote the democratic governance of the Republic.” The same Constitution under Article 93(2) states thus: “The National Assembly and the Senate shall perform their respective functions in accordance with this Constitution.” Remember, it does not say in accordance with the Standing Orders. The Senate is an important House. It is, indeed, mentioned in Article 96. The role of the Senate is clearly defined there. It is stated that the Senate represents the counties and serves to protect the interests of the counties and their governments. The wishes of the people of Kenya are very well represented in this Constitution. If there was anything wrong in this Constitution at the time when Kenyans were given an opportunity to assent or say no to it, they should have, if they so wished, make the Senate the upper House. They would have said no to the draft then and made the necessary amendments to make the Senate the upper House above the National Assembly. Hon. Speaker, Sir, I think it is of utmost importance that our good friends in the Senate realize that they have a very important role to play in this country, which is the effective implementation of devolution. That is where the focus should be. I do not want to repeat many things that have been made very clear by the learned friends in this"
}