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{
    "id": 560394,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/560394/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 219,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, my only advice as we move forward in this campaign for change, is that let us not, in our public statements appear to exhibit arrogance or the kind of loose debate that has characterized the political debate in this country; at least on this matter. If you want to speak to the matter in your respective coalitions, speak to them. Derogate whoever you wish to but on this one, we must exercise decorum. This is the place where people will not only be voting or acknowledging whether we are the “Upper House”. We must demonstrate ourselves as capable of these responsibilities. As I conclude, I have seen the names that have been proposed and I do not think I have any issues with any of them. Mine is only to ask them and I hope they will stand firm. I am sure they will be approached to undermine this process. That means even if you are approached from the opposition ranks, you must say, “No.” These names are some of the best litany of brains that we have within our respective coalitions and it is important that they put the best interests of the Senate at heart. My leader, the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Wetangula, has committed himself to ensure that he discharges every other interest of the Coalition to ensure that these amendments to the Constitution succeed. I hope that is commensurate leadership. The advantage that we have is that our leader in the House is also our leader out of the House. I think he is a big man, he makes decisions; he has the influence to impact in the CORD Coalition; in and outside the House. He has a rare advantage. He has committed that no interest of the Coalition will supersede this particular Senate initiative. You have even seen how I have moderated my speech and it is partly because of his counsel that we must moderate ourselves to ensure that we achieve the bigger goal. I hope that we will all come as a unit and agitate for these amendments and as my dear clear colleague, Sen. Murkomen, said, it is not about spite for the National Assembly. The only people who exercise spite to the other House is the other House. For us, we are exercising the highest level of restraint and decorum. I overheard people in the media say that the Senate has now realised that it is not the “Upper House”. We are not in contestation in terms of the “Upper House” but in terms of devolution and doing the right thing for the people of Kenya. If anybody thinks that that is our contestation, I can bet that you, go to any county or constituency, put a Senator and a Member of the National Assembly together and ask people who of the two is upper. It is a political fact that is known to people in their respective counties and constituencies. What has been proven in the domain of the people need no further justification. For us, it is to ensure that this House has a fully-fledged legislative capacity to do what is good and that is to defend devolution. This Bill assists CORD, the Jubilee Coalition and everybody else because a strong Senate will ensure that devolution is grounded in a manner that meets the aspirations of 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."
}