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{
    "id": 407974,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/407974/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 323,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murungi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 93,
        "legal_name": "Kiraitu Murungi",
        "slug": "kiraitu-murungi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. In view of the time constraints, I would urge the Senators to look at the Report which has been supplied and just highlight what I would consider the very key amendments. Standing Order No.34 which deals with quorum requires the Speaker to establish quorum at the commencement of a sitting. Traditionally, in most Commonwealth parliaments, the Speaker is usually blind to the presence or absence of quorum at the commencement or any time of the proceedings unless a Senator raises the issue. So, we are proposing to amend Standing Order No.34 so that we follow this Commonwealth tradition by deleting Standing Order No.34(2) so that the Speaker does not have to count us at the beginning of any sitting. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Standing Order No.35 which provides that the doors should be locked and no Senator should leave the Chamber during the counting. We consider that Standing Order to be oppressive to Senators because it restricts our freedom of movement. So, we are proposing that that Standing Order be amended as proposed in Paragraph 35(3) by deleting all the words which appear after the words “the door shall remain locked” so that Senators are free to move in and out even as we vote because we are responsible people. Standing Order No.41 provides for messages to be received from the President. In view of our special relationship with the counties, we are proposing to amend Standing Order No.41 so that it will be possible for the Senate to be sending messages, through the Clerk and the Speaker, to the county assemblies and to the Governors. It should also be possible for the Speaker to give advisory opinion to the Speakers at the County Assemblies, either at the request of the Speaker of the County Assembly or at the initiative of the Speaker of the Senate. We thought that this would have been a way of helping the Senate perform its role better in protecting the interests of the counties. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on page 12 of the Report, with regard to Standing Order No.42 on Senators’ General Statements, we are proposing that new Standing Order No.42 be deleted and a new Standing Order be brought in so that we create a Statements Hour, every Tuesday and Wednesday commencing not later than 3.00 p.m. This will allow Senators make statements regarding their counties and other statements of general nature. This will also create time for Chairpersons of Committees to respond and make statements on matters relating to their dockets. We are also creating time for the Senate Majority Leader and the Minority Leaders to make statements in the House regarding their responsibilities as the leaders of the House. That Standing Order should be amended so that a Senator who wants to make a statement, under Standing Order No.41, alerts the Speaker before 1.00 p.m., every day so 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."
}