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"id": 385912,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/385912/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 210,
"legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to oppose this Motion. When we commenced business in the Senate, there was a general unwritten agreement to approach business in a bi-partisan manner. We agreed, and we have demonstrated by conduct, that in more ways than one, the interests of the Senate are supreme. We should not engage in a manner that demonstrates intolerance and one that stifles hon. Senators’ freedom of expression. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we listened to my learned friend, the Senate Majority Leader, move the Motion. He singled out one incident that Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Senator for Kakamega County, in so many words, was comforting “enemies”; that he had proposed a Senator from the opposite camp to become a chairman of a committee. We forgive our colleague because he is new to this kind of business. Practice has it that once hon. Senators are assigned committees, they go to the committees to serve the interests of the Senate, the country and for that matter the counties for which we are responsible. Perhaps, if my learned friend was advised of what happened in other committees, he may re-think the trajectory he has taken, which, in my humble view, is unhelpful, destructive and does not build bi-partisan bridges that we are looking for. It should not be lost. For example, I am a member of the Senate Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations. I lead the minority in this House yet I proposed Sen. Haji, from the Majority, to be the Chairman of the Committee. James Orengo, Senator for Siaya County seconded the appointment of Sen. Haji to be the Chairman of the Committee. I do not think we did anything wrong because we are approaching this process with the interest of the Senate, counties and the country at heart, not narrow partisan interests that are totally unhelpful. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the same committee, Sen. Haji, Senator for Garissa County seconded Nominated Senator, Sen. Ongoro, as the Vice Chair. Why is Sen. Haji not being de-whipped for doing that if what Sen.(Dr.) Khalwale did was wrong? You cannot be selective in deciding what is right and what is not. Sen. Ongoro did not win, but I know that Sen. Haji seconded her proposal to be the Vice Chair of that committee. We were all happy that it was a fair contest. It was democratic and open in the manner we conducted our business. But the vote was secret and we moved on. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if we want to build this country, the greatest enemy of our progress has always been intolerance; that because I hold a view inimical to your feelings, I am an enemy. In fact, the Mover of the Motion used very unguarded language against Sen.(Dr.) Khalwale. I want to encourage that we do not engage in this kind of conduct of business in this House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the other committees where members of the Majority are chairing--- In fact, for this particular committee, we have not even elected the Chair. This is still pending. If yesterday I attended the Rules and Business Committee, I would have opposed the Committee approving such a misguided Motion because we are setting The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}