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{
    "id": 713058,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/713058/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 40,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 171,
        "legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
        "slug": "george-khaniri"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I will take a slightly different angle in this matter. I hail the patriotic residents of Nyamira County for having confidence in the Senate and bringing their petition to us. The issue of petitioning Parliament is important. That is why it is referred to twice in the Constitution. It is under Chapter Four on the Bill of Rights, Article 37 of the Constitution which gives Kenyans the right to petition Parliament. It is also mentioned under Article 119 in Chapter Eight of our Constitution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, since we started sitting in this Senate, we have received many petitions from many quotas. The residents of counties have been complaining about how affairs are being run in their counties. The reason why these petitions come to the Senate is because these Kenyans have confidence in this House. I want us to re-examine ourselves on this issue of petitions. How many petitions have been brought before this House? How many have been completed? Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr., it is a serious matter. We do not want to lose that confidence that Kenyans have in this House. I know of many petitions that have been before this House. The Standing Order No. 277 (2) is clear that once a petition has been committed to a committee, that committee has 60 days to report back to the House. I know of petitions that have taken more than seven months and they have not reported to the House. I know of a number and they include one from Vihiga County Assembly where the MCAs petitioned the Senate and the Petition has been lying with the Committee led by Sen. Billow. I do not understand why the report of that petition has not been brought back to the House. These are some of the things that will make Kenyans to start losing confidence in us. We must stick to the rules that we made ourselves. The Standing Order No. 277 (2) is clear. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I wish to encourage the Committee that this Petition will be committed to expedite the matter so that it does not become like the petition from Vihiga County Assembly."
}