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{
    "id": 647076,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/647076/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 345,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Elachi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13115,
        "legal_name": "Beatrice Elachi",
        "slug": "beatrice-elachi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also support the Report of the Mediation Committee and thank the team. We know that it has been a learning process for the past three years. I believe that the National Assembly understands why the drafters of the Constitution felt that mediation would be part of our process where you bond and learn from each other. In the mediation team, you will realise that everyone reasons the same. You will wonder why conflicts arise when we are in our respective Houses. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, having said that, I also thank hon. Kajuju, Sen. Murungi, hon. Linturi and the whole team from Meru who stood very firm when the challenges facing miraa started in this country. They even travelled to Europe to petition that Britain assists in ensuring that the crop continues being exported there. Miraa has contributed a lot to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We need to support and ensure that there is a framework that will enable them to trade, not just abroad but they can also look at new places where they can trade. They can look to the East and see whether it can work. We can also now see other products coming out of the same miraa and not just chewing it. I believe that this is a product that can even give us juice. We also need to do more research and see how else it can be useful to us. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the only challenge that I face - I now throw it to the Senate - is the issue of oversight funds. We only have one year to finish our term and I think it is time for the Senate to let go off this issue. We need to go back to court. I do not believe in the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) where you find that the revenue that is being shared is accumulated before you even share revenue from the counties. If, indeed, that is the fund for supporting national issues, then their revenue has to be driven from the national revenue after they have shared it. Therefore, it is only that Senators were being a bit diplomatic and sensible by saying that: “These are our brothers and they have had CDF for a while.” However, I think it is time for CDF to go. It is time the courts let us now finish the issue of legislators running funds. Let us all be equal and concentrate on our oversight role. This House must lead by example so that we do not have conflicts and abuse each other as we debate. It is time we did the right thing according to the Constitution. I hope the Attorney-General Emeritus, Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. and Sen. Murkomen will look at that draft, take it to court and allow us to close this chapter. Thank you. 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"
}