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{
    "id": 514441,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/514441/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 130,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Eng.) Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 24,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
        "slug": "nicholas-gumbo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Speaker. The construct of the Constitution is not in doubt that this House is allocated more duties than the Senate. However, that is no reason for the Senate not to feel good about it. What we have seen are these endless turf wars. We must find a way to try to exchange goodwill between the two Houses so that we can move forward. This matter has been with us for too long. The other matter that I am concerned about, for those of us who have been keen and have been watching the media, is a debate which is currently going on in one of the FM radio stations and it is simply called “House of Thieves”. That is largely in reference to this House and to the institution of Parliament. I do not think that is a good way to look at us. There are a number of us who are doing a lot of good work. However, this work is going unnoticed. I remember, for instance, when the issue of the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) came up, hon. Kabando wa Kabando and myself were comparing notes at 1a.m. This is not something that we were doing for ourselves. In fact, the Press conference that we had here with Members on Monday, those of us who were keen, we sent the messages past midnight. Neither hon. Kabando wa Kabando nor myself is a head of a committee. I have also sat in this House up to well past midnight when we are passing some very important Bills. So, as we debate this matter--- I am lucky to have been the inaugural Chairman of the House Broadcasting Committee. One of the things we discussed is that sometimes as an institution we also need to tell Kenyans some of the good things that are happening in this House. As they say where I come from, “Sometimes it takes only one maggot to spoil a whole tonne of meat.” So, a majority of Members in this House are doing a good job but, unfortunately, where we are at the moment that is not being seen. It is incumbent upon us as the institution of Parliament, irrespective of the position that the Senate holds or the position that we hold, that we find a way to redeem this institution. The truth of the matter is that the respect that Parliament has had in this country is slowly dying. I do not think it is good for us. This is an important institution of governance in our country. It is upon us who find ourselves in this moment in time--- Whether we like it or not, it is a crisis. A lot of the committees have been mentioned. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}