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{
    "id": 384705,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/384705/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 86,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wangari",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13123,
        "legal_name": "Martha Wangari",
        "slug": "martha-wangari"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also want to join my colleagues in congratulating you on your ruling. It breaks my heart to keep discussing here issues between the two Houses. But it is important to plan in cases of conflict. That is why the Constitution envisaged the formation of the Mediation Committee with anticipation that this could happen. His Excellency the President, during the Joint Sitting of Parliament, repeatedly said that devolution is not an option for the Jubilee Government. I believe that he is of good will but there are a few elements who are out there to scandalize or to make sure that he looks bad in the eyes of the public. As we appeal to him, I want to urge him to make sure that he does not fall prey to these few elements that are against devolution, to be able to make the right decision for the people of Kenya. If he does that at this moment, then someone might wake up and say that the Senate does not need to sit, and that we can sit once a year. We must protect the dignity of this House. I want to quote what the Senator for Meru County says all the time that: “A lion need not announce that it has reached where you are. You just need to see it and you run away.” The dignity of this House is under siege. Even outside Parliament Buildings, where people are demonstrating by carrying heads of pigs, all this hon. Senators can walk there comfortably. It is not the same case with hon. Members of the National Assembly. We have been too civil until people are thinking that we are rained on. We need to affirm our presence. We need to tell the public that we are here to do what the Constitution mandates us. The roles of both houses have been described in the Constitution. That does not take away what has been described as the role of Parliament. It is a joint role. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we urge the President to make the right decision and uphold your ruling."
}