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{
    "id": 592432,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/592432/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 214,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "cent, what tells us we will be able to oversight the 40 per cent? I wish this Committee could have come up with actionable proposals that can strengthen our oversight role over that 40 per cent. The other thing that I like in this proposal is the involvement of the Senate in budget making. It is ridiculous that the Senate does not have a role in budget making yet this 85 per cent that remains in the National Government affects the counties in one way or the other. I have given the example of monies that are allocated to water. There could be other examples like money allocated to agriculture and health sectors that are devolved. This Senate must have a role when it comes to budget making. The Committee has given some very good proposals on that. It has also proposed to do away with the narrow definition of Bills affecting counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, today the headlines are awash that the National Assembly has let Kenyans down by passing the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill that has two clauses that are an affront to media freedom. The entire nation is expecting that this Senate will stand up to be counted and be the saviour of this nation. That is how we should brand and cast ourselves. The Senate should be a House of sober second thought on weighty matters affecting the nation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I, therefore, support the proposal that all Bills can originate from the Senate or all Bills must go through the Senate, except the Division of Revenue Bill, the Appropriation Bills and the Supplementary Appropriations Bills which will originate from the National Assembly, but must come to the Senate. I also support the proposal that the Senate must be involved in approval of the nominees that enjoy security of tenure. We have seen a lot of jokes in this nation. We saw the Governor Central Bank of Kenya appointed without following the proper requirement. The law says that Parliament shall vet and approve. It went to the National Assembly and that was it. It is a good thing that we got a very good Governor with very strong values that it would be difficult to find a Kenyan who does not like him. However, what if we had a rogue guy who would print currency excessively, thus messing up our economy? So, I support this proposal that officers with security of tenure must be vetted and approved by the Senate. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in my view, there are proposals that are abstract. There are proposals like the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC); yes it is good for us. We know the pain we have when there is one PSC. Sen. Murungi came up with a Bill to set up a Committee. That Committee is not enough. It would be nice to have a service commission for the Senate. These are things that I do not think they have to go for a referendum, because if you take it out there the mama mboga, will not care whether you have one or two PSCs or whether there will be additional costs or not. There are things like the Senate being involved in signing of treaties; legally and intellectually, it is very important. Involvement of the Senate in declaration of a state emergency and deployment of the military is also important. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is also providing very clearly that the Senate shall have a leader of majority and a leader of minority. The juicy things that we need to take to the public, is to tell them that we are increasing the money going to the grassroots by 40 per cent. We are involving the Senate in budget-making process and the legislative agenda of this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, could we at some point imagine a Kenya without a Senate? There are people who have said disband the Senate so that the teachers can be paid or disband the Senate to create a devolution committee in the National Assembly. If this happens, Kenya will be worse. The Senate is the only forum where each county has got one vote. The Senate is the equalizer of this nation. Whereas the President is the symbol of national unity, I view the 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."
}