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    "id": 478875,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/478875/?format=api",
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    "content": "mechanisms to ensure that we are timely in the dispensation of these Motions. I think it will be bad precedence to continue to always adjourn or to procrastinate our adjournment based on the fact that we have certain Business that is still outstanding. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let it also be explained to our constituents. I do recall that when I suggested to our friend that we were adjourning tomorrow, that was yesterday when I was speaking to him, to reopen on the 16th, they thought we are going on leave. I think the reasons for our recesses must be subject to public profiling of what the expectations of every Senator are with respect to the recess. You do realize that as much as our responsibilities border on Article 96 of the Constitution, the general expectations politically is to also conduct certain consultations and be on the ground to do certain things. Ironically, if you were to say that you were to come here as Sen. Elachi or Sen. (Prof.) Lesan, the Senator from Nairobi, the Senator for Makueni or yourself, to initiate 10 legislations over the period of four years, when you go back to the field and they have not seen you over that period of time, they will say you are a stranger to their cause. Unfortunately, if you look at the structure of politics, it is important for us to overhaul the political structure so that people start to internalize it. We have not done enough to explain to the electorate the mandate of the Senate. I think they expect of me or of us, the same that they expect from their Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and the Governor. I have heard many Senators aver to the fact that every other time that they go to the ground, the people tell them “this is the harambee from the Governor; where is yours?” I remember just this weekend, and I mean no offence to the county, I went to present Kshs1 million on behalf of the County of Mombasa to the victims of the attacks in Soweto, Likoni recently. This has almost been a figure that has been accepted; that every other time there is a certain crisis, the county comes up with Kshs1 million. But here you are, as the Senator, trying to dig into your pocket to appear like you can almost match up the Kshs1 million. So, you find yourself putting in Kshs100,000 or Kshs200,000 and you walk as the “biggest” contributor. But in the minds of the people, the biggest contributor is the county or the Governor who has given more than Kshs1 million. I spent a lot of my time upcountry from the time I left school at the age of 14 years. I had not lived in Mombasa for more than one month in any given time. I was a student at Lenana High School then proceeded to Moi University, spend some time at Lanet and then started working for the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHCR). So, when I went back to Mombasa, I got a culture shock. It matters to sit down on a round table regularly. I thought it is important for me to be in the Senate to deliver. For people to keep in touch with you, it is the question of readjustment. We need to overhaul our political culture. This being the inaugural Senate under the new Constitution, we have an extra ordinary opportunity to explain to our electorate what politics is all about and what we expect as politicians. Many of us have retreated to doing business as usual. That is why some of us are finding it difficult to adjust. I have heard Senators make some of the most obnoxious statements. For example, that the human rights activists should keep silent. They do not realize that there is a new Constitution. They say that the police do not have enough power because they still live in 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."
}