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"content": "Commision, which will exclusively focus on empowering Senators to perform these great tasks that are imposed on us by the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we had occasion to travel to Australia with Sen. Fatuma Dullo and Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. in December, as Members of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, courtesy of our Chairman. We saw in Australia that the Senate has its own Senate Administrative Service and the Legislative Assembly also has a separate administrative machinery. So, we are not asking for something new. The Clerk has been to Australia and knows what I am talking about. This is what we need in order to empower the Senate. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Report was tabled yesterday by Sen. James Orengo and he also moved this Motion. I want to thank him for doing so. This is the second time that this Report is being tabled. We tabled it in December last year. I even attempted to move it on 5th December, and the HANSARD will bear me out, because I took you through the Report at that time. Because of the shortage of time and also the rule against repetition, I do not intend to take the Senate through each and every rule that we intend to amend in this Report. Allow me to just highlight some of the key amendments that are being proposed. Mr. Speaker, Sir, quickly running through the Report, we can start at page 5, where we are proposing that the Speaker presides over the election of the Deputy Speaker. On page 6, Part IV, there is the Senate political leadership which deals with both the election and the removal of the Majority and Minority leaders and Whips. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Standing Order 20, on page 7, the Deputy Minority Leader is also being catered for and required to act especially when the Senate Minority Leader is unable to perform his functions, like it happened to Sen. Moses Wetangula. There was no provision for Sen. Abdirahman to act. Now, this provides for that, and also for a Whip to act when both the Senate Minority Leader and the Deputy Senate Minority Leader are not available. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on page 9, there are issues of quorum. We are amending Standing Order No.34, so that the Speaker does not have to count the members present every time during the beginning of a sitting. In the Commonwealth tradition, the Speaker is supposed to be blind to quorum. He should only realize it when the matter is raised by a Member. So, this amendment will allow the Senate to continue without us being counted as we come in at the start of a sitting. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Standing Order No.41 is being amended. Initially, we provided for Messages from the President. We are now providing for messages from county assemblies and Governors and also making provision for our Speaker to give advisory opinions to the speakers in the county assemblies. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on page 12, under Standing Order No.42, we are providing for what we are calling the Statements Hour; one hour on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, commencing not later than 3.00 p.m., for Senators to raise issues arising out of their counties or any issue of a general topical concern. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on page 14, there is the question of limitation of debate. Standing Order No.98 provides that in moving Bills, Sessional Papers, et cetera and debating them, no person can speak for more than 15 minutes, unless with the permission of the Speaker. However, the Mover of any Motion has a maximum of 60 minutes and 30 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."
}