Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 707033,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/707033/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 22,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "November 23, 2016 SENATE DEBATES 6 The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, as I listened to you read the Message from the National Assembly, I could vision a dark cloud descending upon this House. The Senator for Mandera County has said it all; that there is a grand conspiracy to frustrate this House, eventually kill it and destroy devolution. The conduct of the Executive towards Parliament starts from the issue of Women Representatives. We have distinguished women in this House like Sen. Zipporah Kittony. The Executive buys every Woman Representative in the National Assembly two four-wheel-drive cars, but does nothing for the distinguished women in this House who cover even larger areas and do greater work in the country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as they continue to belittle this House, we hear a lot of lip- service about fighting corruption. The Budget and Appropriations Committee in the National Assembly, chaired by a man called Hon. Mutava Musyimi, whom I always call the wrong reverend because he does the wrong things, sat down and allocated themselves - 52 Members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee - Kshs100 million each to take to their constituencies. If that is not corruption, then the word ‘corruption’ has no meaning. The Executive acquiesces to that and does absolutely nothing. Some were just hawking money in their constituencies. That is where we are. We asked for a small fund and you personally called me to your office and requested me to sit on that Committee, which I agreed so as to give it the credence that it deserved. We did a lot of work and looked at everything. However, when the matter went to the National Assembly, they not only poured scorn on it, but rubbished it and insulted the Senate; that they are giving money to Senators to put into their pockets. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I know the membership of this House. Sen. Karaba from Kirinyaga can be equated to Caesar’s wife in terms of probity, and so are other Senators. There is no single Senator who wants this money to put in his pocket. You preside over a House which has no comparables. North Horr Constituency in Marsabit County, which is represented by Sen. Hargura, is physically larger than the former Western, Nyanza and Central provinces put together. Sen. Hargura is supposed to go round the county and even educate the people on what devolution is all about and how money must be accounted for. Instead of him being given a partly Kshs20 million, which he would have probably used to buy one four-wheel-drive vehicle and use the rest on fuel, we are told that Senators want to pocket the money. All this is happening because the Executive is not interested in this House. We are an appendage to an institution called Parliament. Mr. Speaker, Sir, sometimes I feel for you as the leader of this House. We have over 25 Bills pending and gathering dust in the National Assembly on the shelves of a man called Hon. Duale. We have our representatives in the House Business Committee (HBS) in the National Assembly. However, when any matter comes from the Senate, he simply tells them to throw it away and that is where it ends. This frustration is what causes lethargy in this House. Every time, we say Members must come and vote. I have no business whipping my Members to come and vote for Bills that will go to gather dust in the office of Hon. Duale. We pass Bills here. The only Bill that we pass that was going to give meaning to devolution brought by the distinguished Senator for Nandi County, it went to the National Assembly, they 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"
}