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{
    "id": 549377,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/549377/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 175,
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    "content": "The cure for this is to set up two Committees, one of which will look at the focused requirements and needs of the Members of the National Assembly and the other the Members of the Senate. I believe that the reason we have all been lumped up together and treated as animals of the same genetic makeup, is because we lack that focus. This is because the Parliamentary Service Commission, as constituted, still believes that there is only one House in Kenya. I cannot speak on this with the experience that the previous speakers have spoken, because they have been in Parliament and elective politics for a long time. But I speak on this probably from the perspective of corporate governance, where it is good practice for a commission, similar to the Parliamentary Service Commission, to have focused and dedicated small groups that will look at the needs and requirements of the various stakeholders that it represents. One area that we might need to ask ourselves, as the Senate, as we discuss these amendment is that if the Parliamentary Service Commission is chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly, should the National Assembly Service Committee be chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly? This is because these committees will operate under the direction and control of the Parliamentary Service Commission. When the Speaker of the National Assembly chairs the National Assembly Service Committee, is it possible that anything will come out of that Committee that will not seek or meet the approval of the Parliamentary Service Commission? I think from a corporate governance perspective we must ask ourselves whether the National Assembly Service Committee should be chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly or the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. This is because there is going to be some conflict. Once the Committee has decided and the chair of that Committee is the Chair of the Parliamentary Service Commission, it will become very difficult to have any objective discussion on the recommendations of the National Assembly Service Committee. Within the PSC, we, probably, might ask ourselves whether we want the Speaker of the Senate or the Deputy Speaker to be the Chair. We can borrow a few examples from corporate governance which says that, if you are the Chair of a board of directors, then you are not supposed to Chair any other subsidiary committees because ultimately you are like the president of the Supreme Court within that institution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I know that this is a one unit called Senate. There is no CORD or Jubilee in our initiative to save Kenya. However, we in CORD have made certain proposals on areas where we believe that Kenya needs to be saved. We have proposed a lot of things in our initiative to save Kenya. For example, we want to see electoral reforms and more resources channeled to the county governments. But as we do so, we also need to strengthen the institution called the Senate. We have made certain proposals that are going to oblige governors and the executives in these counties to become more accountable and provide quarterly reports. If we can also give life to Sen. Sang’s Bill that establishes county development boards, probably the Senate will start to assert itself. I would like to encourage my colleagues, particularly those who are yet to buy into the salvation of Kenya doctrine, Sen. Karaba and the esteemed Senator for Uasin-Gishu, that this is an opportunity to bring something to the table to strengthen the role of the Senate. This is because we have called for a national dialogue for us to sit 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."
}