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{
    "id": 771956,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/771956/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 361,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wako",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 366,
        "legal_name": "Amos Sitswila Wako",
        "slug": "amos-wako"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On a light note, the Senate Majority Leader said that I am a senior Senator. Let me put it on record that I was very pleased when, thereafter, he added Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri and Sen. Haji as senior Senators. I am, therefore, in good company. I want to congratulate the people who have been nominated into various Committees. Please, develop expertise in the area of the Committee in which you will sit, so that you can make meaningful and positive contribution to the issues which touch the subject matter of what that Committee normally considers. That is very important; it is not just for show. There is an impression that has been created that by forming Committees, Parliament is seeking a way for Members of Parliament to earn money over and above what was recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). That came out very clearly. In fact, in one editorial, I read that not all Members of Parliament should be Members of Committees. In other words, there will be a few Members of the Committee who should be reporting to the rest of the Senators in a plenary session, where there is no allowance. I want them to know, as it has been stated a number of times, that in the Parliamentary Practice, which we follow, more than 80 per cent of the work is done in Committees. Therefore, it is actually critical and very important that each and every Member of Parliament belongs to some Committee or the other. It is not a question of a few reporting to the rest. I just want to correct that impression in the eyes of some editorials that are read on this issue. Otherwise, what it will mean is that you have been elected, you do not belong to any committee, but just wait for a few people who have been elected and are in Committees to report to you what they have done and what you just do is to approve. Each and every Member of Parliament is equal whether you are young, old, senior or junior. Each and every one of us is very important. In fact, I normally value the contributions of the young Senators because they come with fresh minds and ideas which tend to challenge our brains as the older people. That is why we remain young because we listen to what the youth are telling us. So, I just want---"
}