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{
    "id": 545499,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/545499/?format=api",
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    "content": "separated through committees. This does not involve a constitutional amendment and can be achieved fairly quickly. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Bill proposes the creation of two committees; one in charge of the Senate and another one in charge of the National Assembly. This means that when the parliamentary budget is made and we know what is supposed to be allocated to the Senate and the National Assembly, it is the Senate Services Committee which should implement the budget as far as the Senate is concerned. The National Assembly’s Services Committee should administer the budget for the National Assembly. So, in terms of providing facilities for our offices, mileage and what have you, we should not be going to joint committees. Instead, we should be going to the Senate Services Committee. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as I pointed out earlier, the Parliamentary Service Commission Act was enacted several years before the new Constitution came into place. Therefore, the Act does not recognise the existence of the Senate. When it talks about the “Clerk”, for instance, that means the “Clerk of the National Assembly”. It does not make any reference at all to the Senate because the Senate was not there at that time. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Bill seeks to amend Section 8 of the Act to include the Senate in the nomination of Members to the PSC. As it is now, although the Constitution provides for representation, the Act does not provide a similar provision for participation of the Senate in the appointment of Members to the PSC. Secondly, it seeks to amend Section 12 of the Act to enable the PSC establish committees and co-opt Members into the committees. Therefore, by amending Section 12, it will be possible for the PSC to have power to establish the two committees that I am talking about. A new Section 12(b) is introduced making it mandatory for the PSC to establish National Assembly’s Services Committee and the Senate Services Committee to be chaired by the Speaker with the Clerk of the Senate as the Secretary. The functions of the committees are stated in Clause 12(c) of the Bill which includes providing services in terms of what the PSC is doing to both the Senate and the National Assembly. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as I said, I do not want to speak for a long time because I talking to the converted. Time has come for us to stand up for the Senate and make it an effective institution of parliamentary democracy and the apex institution of devolution in this county. Time has come for us to empower ourselves as Senators so that we perform the critical roles that Kenyans expect us to perform. With those few remarks, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that this Bill be read a Second Time. I would like to request my learned friend, the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Wetangula, to second this important Bill. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."
}