Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 550495,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/550495/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 351,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The methodology that was used by the company is wanting. Our mandate is enshrined in the Constitution: First is the representation of the people. Secondly, we ensure and protect the welfare of devolution. However, all these cannot be effected without legislation in the Senate. I sit in this Senate most of the time. Sometimes, I sit as the Chair. I know the contributions from individual Senators. Sen. Karaba here sits in this House almost every day and contributes to almost every Motion. You cannot tell me somebody can sit somewhere and call constituents, most of whom, maybe, are not even privy to what you do in the Senate, do not have television sets or do not even own a handset. This is because the researcher admitted that she used telephones handsets. That means that the majority of your constituents back at home were not given an opportunity to say what they know about their Senator. It was selective to the point that only those who are well off in a county; own handsets and were online at that time responded. This is completely unacceptable. It is also very negative and unfortunate that at a time this country is grappling with the two-thirds gender issue – which is a hot cake right now – a report in one of the leading daily newspapers gives the implication, whether directly or indirectly, that the presence of women Senators in this House is not felt. They should have been specific; that the report is specific to the elected Senators and they were talking to their counties. But to give a blanket implication without mentioning that actually they were not including female Senators, could also be targeting and giving the impression that those who are advocating for the scrapping of women seats are right, because even in the Senate women are not heard and are not anything. Women in this Senate have brought Motions and Bills. Their presence and participation is above average, going by all fronts. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, lastly, Infotrak is now losing credibility. If they are not careful people are going to start taking them for granted for all we care, then they can produce all manner of research findings, but Kenyans will get used to the fact that they sit in their offices and give them what they hear. It is really incredible that as we sit in this Senate, with our legislative agenda and responsibility, the Senators who everybody knows that they do not even make an appearance in the Senate are actually ranked better than everybody who spends their time here interrogating Bills, Motions, giving contributions and shuttling back and forth their counties. It is unfair not just to all the individual Senators here, but also to this country. You sit there almost on daily basis, ensuring that the business of the Senate takes place."
}