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{
    "id": 655305,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/655305/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 301,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, what is critical for us in this House is the role of Parliament in ensuring that there is equity, quality of legislation and prudent and proper use of national and county resources for the country. That is why the next Senate must match the expectations of the people of Kenya in oversighting and protecting counties from external attacks in the budgeting process or the role of other levels of Government like Parliament and the national Executive. To achieve that, we will need to amend this Constitution. I am sure that Sen. (Prof.) Anyang'-Nyong'o will agree with me that one of the most successful regimes in uniting the country was the past coalition Government. It provided institutions of governance - although they were temporary and short-term – that made everybody feel that they were part and parcel of the governance of the country. The position of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, politically speaking, provided a safeguard; that every community was part and parcel of the Government. Now, we have a Constitution that provides critical institutions like the Senate. In the political negotiations, the Speaker of the Senate provides part of the balancing act of political representation and unification of the country, yet we want to weaken it to the extent that the Speaker of the “Upper House” is trampled upon by other institutions and looked down upon by the National Assembly. He is not part and parcel of the discussions of the running of the State. It is not one of the institutions that engage in negotiations of certain issues of oversight, representation and sharing of national and county resources. The strength of this House is necessary for unifying the country, protecting the counties and the people against attack by internal forces within the counties on issues of resources. When the Senate asks to be allocated resources for oversight, it appears like it is begging another level of Government. We want to ensure that there are sufficient checks that can be achieved; to check the other House and other institutions and make sure that this House can operate. As Senators, this is a great opportunity and as a Member of this Committee, I will put my every effort forward. I hope that when we go to collect signatures - if we have to go for popular initiative - we will also pass through a process of integrity that ensures that the names and signatures that we bring will be those that the people of Kenya have consented to. Madam Temporary Speaker, once we have agreed that we want one million signatures, each of the 47 Senators needs to come up with about 25,000 signatures. It is possible with commitment. We should bring credible signatures, without duplication, drawings and other kinds of things that we have witnessed with other signatures."
}