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{
    "id": 723729,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/723729/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 315,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "(Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki): Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I thank Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. for that valuable information. However, in his usual enthusiasm, he has completely failed to appreciate what my point was. My point was simple, that in Australia with many decades of bicameral Parliament, they still have the push and pull. How that push and pull between the two Houses is resolved is a different topic but the push and pull exists until today. However, I appreciate that information but I do not know where Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. gets time to read all these things because he appears to be a fairly relaxed human being. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for the record, it is not true to argue that the national Executive has not generated Bills which have been considered by this House. I want to link that point with the point that was raised by Sen. Muthama, the Senate Minority Whip. He said something about who has been besides the President signing Bills and that kind of thing. Of course his observation is not true but be that as it may, we are always there whether standing, seated or around the compound. I need to explain something very important for us to appreciate. The Constitution says that when a Bill originates from one House and is considered by the second House, it is returned to the originating House for concurrence. The Constitution also says that when such a Bill which originated from House “A” is returned to that House, it is the Speaker of the originating House to forward that Bill to the President. By the nature of the design of the Constitution, an overwhelming majority of the Bills, perhaps except the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, originates in the “Lower House”. So, the problem has nothing to do with the Executive or the Senate Majority Leader. The Constitution says that when a Bill goes to the second House, it is returned to the originating House whose Speaker shall forward it to the President for assent. So, the problem is constitutional. For once, I am beginning to believe that maybe we need a referendum to correct some of the constitutional challenges. I know the “Okoa Kenya” brigade is here and they are very annoyed with the differences we had sometimes back. Going forward, we should agree on how to amend some of the offensive Clauses in our Constitution after the general election. I am discouraged by my brothers and sisters in the Minority side. I have owned up to the challenges from the Majority side. However, it is not right for our colleagues to pontificate here. My understanding of the Minority side, sometimes in other jurisdictions it is called the Official Opposition, whose role is to generate alternative legislative and policy agenda. Whether that agenda passes or not is a different thing. This is so that Kenyans can interact, compare and contrast. I have not seen a single Bill in this House during the four years sponsored by the CORD Coalition. Let us be honest with ourselves. Instead of using their brilliant minds to generate Bills, they have used those brains to cause demonstrations in the streets, disruptions of public order and mayhem in our country. 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"
}