Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 751009,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/751009/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 935,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "we had occasion to agree that certain things had to be done in a bipartisan manner in order to dignify this House and our country. I want to point out, for example, our very valiant fight in 2013, after our mandate on the Division of Revenue law was removed from us, or an attempt was made. I remember we all stood together; there was no Majority or Minority side. We spoke on behalf of Kenya, Parliament and the Senate. That is a good example where bipartisanship can be useful for the country; I think it should be emulated. There are times we had to disagree for obvious reasons; political and ideological reasons. But even in such circumstances we have never, even in single incident, degenerated into a House of chaos. We have refused to promote chaos and shame. For that reason, I am a very proud Member of this House. I do recall that we disagreed seriously on the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill and we passed it. Both the Minority and Majority side had different positions, but we never tore one another’s clothes, there were no Members who undressed, as was reported elsewhere and we did not pour water on each other or the Speaker. It was an acrimonious piece of legislation, but it was passed in dignity and a democratic way, where the Majority had their way but the Minority had their say. Another example is when we had the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2017. This country was almost going up in frames because of the demonstrations that had been called on 4th January, 2017. People had died and the temperatures in the National Assembly had been set in such a way that the country was literally on tenterhooks. It took the esteemed character of this House, both the leadership and the entire membership, to pass that law, saying the same thing that the National Assembly said, but without tearing the country apart. In fact through the initial discussions we had begun around that Bill, we were able to forestall a major crisis during that period, in January this year. There are many things we have done together, whether in agreement or disagreement. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am grateful for your leadership and your deputy, Sen. Kembi- Gitura, and all of us. The other appreciation I want to make is to the judiciary. We have had issues with the Judiciary once in a while, but overall it has helped to augment the position of the Senate in our democracy."
}