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{
    "id": 606842,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/606842/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 312,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. May I also appreciate the work of the Committee and the membership for the great work they have done, particularly having tools for negotiations. Sometimes, you acquire more strength by making compromises. This strategic compromise has shown that the Senate is not just there to cause problems or be a source of conflict of legislative kind, but to do things that will make the country move forward. I wish to add that this particular Bill is an annual Bill. Every year, we will continue to have a Division of Revenue Bill. Whichever way I have read the Constitution, either in terms of the sections that deal with what the Senate can deal with or with Chapter 12 of the Constitution that deals with the finances, if there is anything that touches on the responsibility and the mandate of the Senate, it is this particular Bill. It is a Bill which the Senate must consider if it has to meet its objectives as stipulated under Article 96 of the Constitution. I, therefore, hope that, like a great Kenyan called Tom Mboya said, “a country is as strong as its institutions.” The moment we begin to belittle or emasculate the role or the responsibility of any one institution, then the whole framework, architecture and structure cannot work. I hope that as we move forward, somebody will take a walk to Damascus and see the proverbial light and say that the Senate has a role to play in this and that its role is not just to vote. Otherwise, for people like Sen. G.G Kariuki who have been here many years, if you are just waiting to be instructed by a Member from the “lower” House that since they have decided and we must, therefore, vote in a certain way, then, probably he is in the wrong House. I would also certainly consider myself to be in the wrong House as well. Mr. Speaker, Sir, having said that, we have sent a good signal that in whatever circumstances we are ready to not only protect the counties and their governments - and not the counties and their Governors - but to make sure that they get adequate resources. We are also very conscious of the fact that protecting the Governor is quite different from protecting the county government. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also want to appreciate your leadership so far in this respect. If you did not provide positive and effective leadership, even the compromises that we have made would have become impossible. One day as we continue pushing, somebody will realize that this is not only the ‘upper” House, but ultimately it should be listened to. I am beginning to get a little bit disappointed because we have not seen the light of making sure that the Senate is actually the one that approves appointments which are made at a 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."
}