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{
    "id": 508283,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/508283/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 390,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Zani",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13119,
        "legal_name": "Agnes Zani",
        "slug": "agnes-zani"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I support this Motion. I would like to start by saying that this Senate has really grown from strength to strength, from the time we began. We need to remember that we are a new House in a new bicameral system as stipulated in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. I think that we have put our best foot forward and worked hard. We have also found ways of getting our work better done. As has been alluded to, we have passed 11 Bills. We could have had more, but we can sit back, as we begin the Third Session, and find mechanisms to fast-track even the way we process Bills and discuss them. We have a lot of business in this House and want to transact it in such a way that by the time we finish the Fifth Session, we will have really surpassed the Bills that we would have wanted to bring to this House. In the Committee on Education where I sit, we brought two very crucial Bills to the House; the Early Childhood Development Bill and the Universities (Amendment) Bill which will really streamline the education sector in this country. I am sure that across all the Committees a lot of vibrancy has really taken off. I remember when we began, we, as the Senate, had a session where we met the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA). But this time we have been able to do it within the various Committees. The various Committees have really grown and the dynamism within them will actually enable us to get our agenda going. There was a reason people voted for devolution and a bicameral system. Therefore, it is very important that we, as the Senate, contextualize our roles in terms of being the guardian angel of the counties. The work that we need to do in this Senate must be done. We have spoken about accountability which is very critical. As much as we fight for more resources, as long as we do not get a culture in this country; that we must be accountable for what has been given to us--- In fact, I do not even think that any state organ needs to follow another one and request for accountability from that state organ. We need to move to a point where we actually come forth with the figures, calculations and expenditure and put them up for everybody to see. This is because we really must ensure that devolution has worked by the end of five years. People within the communities must feel that social economic development has come their way. We would appreciate at that point if they will attribute it to the Senate. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, now that a more cordial working relationship with the National Assembly is developing, I think it will be very quick for us to dispense of our agendas. The process of allocating Bills and determining whether or not they concern counties needs to be streamlined, so that we can have quick concurrence between the two Speakers. We are moving to a point where we also anticipate more Bills to come to this House from the National Assembly, even as we produce our own Bills within the context of the Senate. We are up to the task and we are looking forward to it as we take a rest so that we come back more re-energized and energetic. 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."
}