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{
    "id": 617528,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/617528/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 135,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13162,
        "legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
        "slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support this Motion. I bring to the attention of the House and particularly my colleagues who have spoken before about the membership of these committees. Standing Order No.176(4) requires that the whips shall be nominated to the Committee. So, it is not just those in Standing Order No.176(1) that form part of this Committee. However, I do not see anywhere in the Standing Orders that says that the Whips and their deputies shall be members of this Committee. By practice, it appears that as if we have included the Whips and their deputies. That is one area we could look at to see to it that fresh blood and other people who want to gain experience in the running of the affairs of this Committee could be co-opted. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when you look at the twelve Members, seven of them are almost mandatory. If you count the deputy Whips, you have seven people who hold positions. For the remaining five members, it will be difficult to find replacements for them. It will be very difficult to argue that Sen. Orengo should leave his position for Sen. M. Kajwang. These are people with the best experience and as far as the Constitution is concerned, they are the right people. However, I am concerned with the functions of this Committee. If we are going to renew the term of this Committee unchanged, we must ask ourselves whether the RBC did in the past one year what it was supposed to do. One of the roles of the RBC is to adjust the Senate calendar with the approval of the Senate. I reflect on the last session this Senate had on 3rd December, 2015 when we were summoned through text messages to come and attend a very important session of this Senate and discuss a very important matter, which was a Public Audit Bill. The Bill has since found its way to the court of law for interpretation. I call upon the RBC to be much more vigilant and tougher when it comes to the spine and ensure that the calendar of this Senate is not influenced by a cocktail at State House and the next day, Members are called to come and discuss very important matters. Another role of this Committee is to monitor and oversee the implementation of Senate business and programmes---"
}