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{
    "id": 549379,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/549379/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 177,
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    "content": "together and talk about the things that ail Kenyans. We do not have a monopoly of ideas. We do not have to exhaust all the ideas in terms of saving this nation. I want to call upon my colleagues, my brothers and the esteem Senators on the other side, that this is also an opportunity for them to bring something to the table, so that we can strengthen the role of the Senate. We want to ensure that we entrench the Senate as an institution that Kenyans understand. One of the biggest problems is that Kenyans do not really understand what we do. We are like a mongrel that is between a governor and a Member of National Assembly. It becomes very difficult to succeed because there is too much expectation that is not supported by legislation and the Constitution. I see this as an opportunity for us to have a national dialogue we have been talking about. This could be one low lying fruit that we can pluck to ensure that we strengthen the role of the Senate. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, going forward, we probably might want to ask ourselves whether we want to have separate commissions, one for the Senate and another for the National Assembly. However, we would not have been on that problem were it not for the egos and infantile competition between the National Assembly and the Senate. First and foremost, we are all MPs. It is only that we have certain specific roles as Senators and Members of the National Assembly. But at the end of the day, we are all parliamentarians. Perhaps, if we get to that level where we appreciate each other, we could still operates under one commission if that commission understood that a Senate exists and it has a role that is different from the National Assembly. If we continue with the competition and where we do things that gets to the other House are challenged, then we need to assert ourselves. This House is a reservoir of knowledge. I am privileged to sit in this House because I am able to tap into and drink into the wells of wisdom, knowledge and experience that the Members of this House profess. I believe that this House needs to be treated with respect. The experience and values here need to be tapped for the sake of this nation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support this amendment Bill and urge that we must reform our thinking and get rid of competition and egos that have stifled the role of the Senate."
}