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{
    "id": 782152,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/782152/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 19,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Linturi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 69,
        "legal_name": "Franklin Mithika Linturi",
        "slug": "franklin-linturi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Hon. Members of the Senate, I lack better words and adjectives to describe what took place within the NASA fraternity, but for the first time, democracy is being seen to be taking shape. As much as I sympathise with my brother and friend, Sen. Wetangula, I have been wondering how a single Member of a political party can be a leader of the minority coalition in the Senate. Another reason why I am saying democracy is seen to be working is because our Standing Orders are very clear on how the leadership of this Senate should be arrived at. I have keenly listened to the letters that you have just read to us from the leadership of NASA or ODM stating that the appointment of Sen. Wetangula did not follow the right procedures as laid down in the Standing Orders. Thirdly, democracy is taking shape because today the Senators within the NASA fraternity have decided to adhere to the rules of this House and elected the leadership that is answerable to them. The leadership that was there was as result of political patronage. This is not the leadership that we would want to see. We want a leadership that is answerable to the people and the Senators. The provisions of electing either the Senate Majority Leader or the Senate Minority Leader are also clear. Let those that are in the other leadership positions take note that they must be answerable and accountable to the Senators in this House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it may also depend on what lens you want to look at this matter; that we will also be staring at the death of democracy. If I was to think loudly, probably the handshake that we saw last Friday could be the one that is bringing these goodies around. I am happy that I have a personal relationship with Sen. Orengo as my lawyer and a friend. I wish him all the best in his new appointment as the Senate Minority Leader. We have a new relationship that we want to nurture for this country. We have this relationship which must work to ensure the economic development of this country is fast- tracked. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you for your ruling because you have shown the country that the independence of Parliament in terms of making certain decisions is the core of our democracy. As I said, I wish Sen. Orengo all the best in his new job. At the same time, I ask Sen. Wetangula to take it lightly because there are those high and low times in the life of an individual. This is just a normal occurrence; probably, many worse things might have happened to him before. The best thing is to take it lightly and move on."
}