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{
    "id": 705988,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/705988/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 285,
    "type": "other",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "not want to dismiss the document in its entirety. Some of the key provisions might have been influenced by the position taken by the National Assembly on several occasions. We need to review the report and ensure that we entrench the position of the Senate table office protect the interest of the counties such that county governments are properly entrenched within the Constitution. We must ensure that independent institutions including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commissions and other Commission are protected as provided for by the Constitution. The independence of the Judiciary, Parliament and the Executive must be entrenched in the Constitution. In terms of Parliament, we have had discussions in this House on how to ensure that the two Houses exist in a harmonious way. We should ensure that Bills flow between the National Assembly and the Senate. We should ensure that Article 110 of the Constitution is not used in a manner to disadvantage this House in the passage of Bills. This House is being set up for failure by our partners in the National Assembly. I have sponsored four Bills which were approved by this Senate. They are lying at the National Assembly. The National Assembly has not taken steps to prioritize the work of this House. We must also, as Senate, sit and ask ourselves how we will address this challenge. On several occasions, a Bill from the National Assembly rarely takes more than a month and it is scheduled in the Order Paper of the Senate, we dispose with it and make them happy. At the end of the day, when 2017 comes and each of the Houses will have to produce a report card, we will see tens of Bills that have been processed and passed that originated from the National Assembly. We will have a lot of Bills that have originated from this House but never saw the light of the day. On some of those accounts, Kenyans will be presented with a skewed report card that the National Assembly has passed over 150 Bills into law and that the Senate has passed about 15 Bills only, say, the Division of Revenue Bill, the County Allocation of Revenue Bill. Yet, it is a fact that Members of this House have developed the highest number of private Members Bills as opposed to the other House. We need to find a working formula between the Senate and the National Assembly. Each of these Houses must hold their counterpart in high esteem in consonance with the Constitution. It is unfortunate that one House would think that they have a greater mandate and theirs will illuminate the role of the other House. This House has always respected the position of the National Assembly. It is high time that the National Assembly respects this House. I congratulate the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations for taking up this matter and bringing up this amendment Bill. I hope we will pass this Bill. The only tragedy is that once this Bill is passed, it has to be taken to the National Assembly. The same institution that amended the law to eliminate the role of the Senate in treaty making is the same institution that once we pass this Bill, we will present it to for ratification. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, whereas common logic would dictate that we should have forgotten about this thing because it is still going to go to them, it is important for us to underscore what the Constitution says. The reason why the chairperson of this committee has brought up this amendment is because it is the right position as provided for by the law. This is a Bill that seeks to restore one of the mandates given to the Senate that the National Assembly has tried to take away through the back door. It is a Bill that 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"
}