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{
    "id": 708457,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/708457/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 237,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, this House is at crossroads and in a state of agony in more ways than one; in the manner in which our mandate has been routinely undermined. Last week, we spoke strongly about this unmitigated energy that is being weighed on us. I thank the Senate Majority Leader for being firm on the matter to the extent that we are in agreement that whether we hang jointly or separately; either way we shall be hanging. This House must stand and defend itself because nobody else will do it. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this House must stand and make itself relevant because nobody else will. We have had resistance - and you have said it even from the Chair- from every direction and quarter. Injunctions at the law courts against us are issued like cakes in the market. We have the Council of Governors (CoG) with a war chest that is singularly put to resist the Senate. We have insulting governors who cannot come to the Senate on invitation or summons even if they are within the law and the Constitution. We have a sister House, the “lower” House, that sees this House as an irrelevant appendage to the institution of Parliament and many others. The relevance of this House shall and will not be pronounced and ring-fenced by anybody other than this House itself. That is why I am happy to see that the committee that we are putting in place is a committee of members who have been in the process of dealing with the issue about this oversight fund. In fact, Sen. Murungi, the first on the list has been the Chair. I hope that if there will be need for Co-Chairs, he is given the privilege and opportunity to continue with that job. Further, talk of driving a wedge. Whoever drafted the original Motion was trying to bring unnecessary and unhelpful difficulties between the Senate Majority Leader and I because the normal operation of things in this House is that where you are 15, it will be eight from across the Floor and seven from this side of the House. I am happy that you have allowed us to do so, so that we send a Committee with membership that is balanced and representative. I do not want to cast aspersions on anybody, but some of the Members that had been listed have a history of not attending meetings at all. If they were to go to that negotiation Committee and a vote is necessary, we would be disadvantaged"
}