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{
    "id": 715811,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/715811/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 173,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sang",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 907,
        "legal_name": "Stephen Kipyego Sang",
        "slug": "stephen-kipyego-sang"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will not go into the direction of uttering a lot of toxic and corrosive statements. I know that is a preserve of a particular Senator in this House. I want to congratulate the House today. Whereas the general feeling in the political arena in this country was that at the end of the day we would have the opportunity to announce the winners and the losers, I am excited that after the processes that we have engaged in today in this House, we are declaring that this country wins. It is important for this country to appreciate that. I saw the misguided discussions out there, when the National Assembly approved this Bill.People imagined that the Bill would go to the President for assent. A lot of stakeholders raised issues that there was no public participation. If each of those stakeholders cared to understand the law and the process, they would understand that this Senate had to be involved. It points to the importance of a two-chamber Parliament. If we did not have the Senate in this country, most likely that window of public participation and an opportunity for us to relook at this Bill would have been lost. Such are the times that we realize that a second House that would have the opportunity to consider matters coming from the National Assembly and vice versa is important, especially for those people in this country who might have the imagination that the Senate is not important. I am excited that we have had an opportunity to stamp the authority and the mandate of the Senate.We hope that Kenyans will benefit from this when the Committee, where I happen to be the Vice-Chairperson, will conclude the matter. However, it is important also to note that we are living in a democracy. In a democracy, the minority have their say, the majority have their way. We cannot run away from that cardinal principal of Democracy. Therefore, I urge every Kenyan, more so, the Members of the Senate and the National Assembly, to speak out and convince their colleagues regardless of the different views. At the end of the day, if consensus does not work, we resort to a vote. If one loses in a democratic process where there is a vote, they must be willing to abide by the will of the majority. I urge the Members of the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, when we get into that committee to deal with this matter, let us expedite the process within a bipartisan manner. However, in case we get to a position where we need to take a vote, let us be ready to abide by the decision of the committee. That is what democracy is. It is the essence of democracy. Otherwise, we cannot subject this House to threats that if some people do not have their way they will demonstrate. That does not make sense. This is a House that believes in democracy. This is a democratic country. We must be willing to take part in the process and abide by the rule of the majority. However, this coming within the Holidays season, I hope the members of the Committee will sacrifice a bit so that we are able to perform this onerous national 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"
}