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{
    "id": 548296,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/548296/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 276,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 447,
        "legal_name": "John Krop Lonyangapuo",
        "slug": "john-lonyangapuo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to contribute to this Bill; The Parliamentary Service (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No.21 of 2014). From the outset, I want to thank Sen. Murungi who is the originator of this Bill for a job well done in addressing and looking at the holistic status of Parliament, which is now no longer unicameral. It is a bicameral legislature. If you look at the Act that established the Parliamentary Service Commission, it only talks of Parliament as strictly the National Assembly. It does not take into account existence of the Senate. Prior to the year 2013, before the enactment of the new Constitution, there existed a Parliamentary Service Commission and the Act was in place but it has not been aligned to the current status of Parliament for which it should be noted that we have a Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the Nation Assembly. Hence, the duties of the Members that serve Kenyans in those two distinct Houses; the Senate and the National Assembly, are clearly spelt out in the Constitution. It, therefore, follows that attention was supposed to be paid to the Senate just like it is paid to the National Assembly. This Bill specifically seeks to establish two service committees that fall under the Parliamentary Service Commission. It is mentioned here; the National Assembly Service Committee and the Senate Service Committee. This way, we may end up removing some of the hiccups and problems between the two Houses. When the Constitution was being written, the Parliamentary Service Act was supposed to be rewritten but since it was not done, it necessitated that an amendment is supposed to be introduced and that has now come. This is to align it with the Constitution. The functions of the Senate and those of the National Assembly are very clear. Article 96 is very clear and Kenyans need to be taken through. We hear many theories being advanced that the Senate has no powers. When the Constitution says the Senate represents counties, what does that mean? It means that the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) is supposed to know and give the necessary support for every Senator to represent their counties appropriately. The Constitution also says that the Senate serves 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."
}