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{
    "id": 647062,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/647062/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 331,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "April 20, 2016 SENATE DEBATES 51 The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki): Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Mediation Committee and our representatives, chaired by Attorney General Emeritus, the Senator for Busia, my senior and friend, Sen. Wako. This culture of mediation has taken a bit of time to develop. Initially, we had so many issues when we had differences of opinion between the two Houses but now, it is very clear, beyond adventure that, in accordance with the Constitution, when the two Houses have differences of opinion, the only way is not grandstanding, threats or cajoling. It is to sit down, mediate and agree on a version. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am also pleased to note that in the context of the mediated versions of Bills, so far, we have not lost any Bill. The law provides that if the Houses are not in consensus, the Bill is lost. That is a demonstration that the differences that occur do not occur out of trivialities. Secondly, it is a demonstration that the Members in the Committees from both Houses take our national duty as the legislators seriously. We do not want the efforts that have gone into the Bill to go to waste because of the small differences. May I say that the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill is an important component especially to the people of Meru County. They have been struggling for a long time with the question of the classification of miraa . This Bill classifies miraa as a crop - notwithstanding what the Senator for Homa Bay said previously - this will be a duty on the Government to put resources like it does in coffee, pyrethrum, tea and coconut in order to also promote it. I am sure, today, the people of Meru County are happy. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am speaking on behalf of Sen. Murungi who just walked out to attend to some issues. We agreed that I hold his brief. Soon, once the Bill is assented to, the people of Meru County will be hearing the plans the Government has in promoting miraa crop in accordance with the new law. This will bring to an end the long struggle that the people of Meru County have had in the fight for recognition of miraa as a crop and its promotion like any other crop in Kenya. I support."
}