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{
    "id": 705997,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/705997/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 294,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Karaba",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 232,
        "legal_name": "Daniel Dickson Karaba",
        "slug": "daniel-karaba"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, thank you very much for allowing me to contribute in support of this Bill. Since the promulgation of the Constitution in 2010, quite a number of Members have not understood the Constitution. Before then, there was a gathering which took place at the Bomas of Kenya. Some of us were there and we contributed a lot towards the making of the Constitution framework. Some Members who were not there were represented by some people who believed that the moment somebody read the Constitution, he could interpret the same to the masses. Since so-and- so has read, we will also not read the Constitution because we were told what is there by the person who read it and understood it. These are some of the problems that we are now facing. These are the fruits of misinformation and poor delivery of the Constitution to the people. The consumption of the Constitution has not been well taken by some people. Worse of it all is that some of these people are parliamentarians. It is important to note that we are all parliamentarians whether elected as a Senator or a Member of the National Assembly. That is why it is stated as Parliament in the Constitution. We need to understand the rules of the game now that Parliament is an august House. We need to be sure of who a Member of Parliament is and what kind of legislation goes on in Parliament.It is true that Bills are passed by both Houses of Parliament. There is something negative when the National Assembly decides not to recognize some Bills passed by the Senate. This is because they are trying to negate some of the principles of the same Constitution that we all passed in the Bomas of Kenya and promulgated in 2010. I fear a situation where we run into problems of misunderstanding because those misunderstandings that may lead into problems. For us to understand one another, I propose that there should be a retreat for the Members of Parliament from the National Assembly and the Senate. We have heard people who have said that the Senate should be abolished yet it is in the Constitution. I think this is happening because people are trying to understand what the Senate means. We have even had some people who have come to Parliament for the first time in the Eleventh Parliament saying that they have the powers and that they cannot recognize what is already recognized in the Constitution. This is the reason why we need to have a session where the Constitution will be taught again to all sitting Members for them to understand what roles each House plays. They should understand what mediation is. Why should we go to mediation when it is an obvious Bill or legislation which needs to be passed by either of the Houses? It is important to help the Members of Parliament to understand what a bicameral Parliament is. It is also important to fit the Senate to what we call the Senate of the world. 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"
}