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{
    "id": 592417,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/592417/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 199,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murungi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 93,
        "legal_name": "Kiraitu Murungi",
        "slug": "kiraitu-murungi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you, for giving me the opportunity to support this Motion which seeks to adopt the report of the Select Committee that was appointed by this House for purposes of looking at the Senate with a view to amend the Constitution and give the Senate a strong foundation in the Constitution. I was a Member of this Committee, Therefore from the outset, let me say that I am familiar with the report and I support it. However, allow me to point out a few things in support and for emphasis of certain aspects of the report. The broad terms of the Committee as stated in page eight of this report states that the Committee was to inquire into the design of legislature and in particular the institutions set out in the Constitution with a view to protecting the interests of the county governments and safeguarding the system of devolved government established in the Constitution and make recommendations of the appropriate roles to be played by the Senate in budget making process, revenue allocation, legislative process and oversight over the national and county governments. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, without going further, it is very clear that the Senate, as presently constituted under the Constitution, and as operating currently, does not have sufficient capacity to make laws or carry out oversight functions in any meaningful manner that can benefit our people in the counties. If we continue with the present trend, the Senate will be as good as dead. I know that many Senators are not here today because they have travelled to Mombasa, but there is a creeping feeling that this House is acting in futility in a number of issues. We have become a mere debating club as opposed to a House of Parliament. We have now been in existence for more than two years yet the President has only assented to five Bills from the Senate. I know that we are busy generating more legislative proposals, but unless this House is taken much more seriously by the Executive, it will not play the important roles that Kenyans expected would be played by the Senate. We are aware that it was originally imagined by “ Wanjiku” in the making of the Constitution that the Senate would be a very powerful body like that of the United States of America (USA), Nigeria or India where all the laws debated in the Lower House are finally confirmed in the Upper House. In terms of personnel, the Senate has the capacity. We have the most experienced leaders of this country sitting here, including former ambassadors, like you. We also have former Ministers of Government like I and others. We also have many other professions who include surgeons, lawyers, former chief whips, professors and many others. This House is full of talents and experience. However, all the qualifications and talents here are going to waste because this House is held and trapped in various ways. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have made many attempts to empower this House which did not succeeded. I remember the Bill that was sponsored by Sen. Sang. The oversight function of the Senate cannot be postmortem. We cannot wait for funds to be looted or wasted by governors, then sit here and listen to postmortem reports of how things happened. The oversight role should start at the planning stage. Planning should be done by the governors in accordance with the Constitution. We should check that governors endorse public participation. Half of the projects that we would like to be done in the counties should be captured in the County Integrated 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."
}