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{
    "id": 814444,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/814444/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 51,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "My view is that the fight that is on is not about these Bills. If that offends anyone, so be it. This is a different fight. I want to remind my colleagues that when we came to this House, there was a lot of optimism after we sat with together with Members of the National Assembly. Indeed, we trusted them to pass the kitty that would enable Senators to be able to go around their counties. However, when that Motion went to the National Assembly, it was treated to semantics and lies. When it was later given to a Committee, excuses were given and finally, the fate was spelled out that Senators would have no kitty. It was not passed after they gave so many excuses. The intention was to make sure that this House remains in limbo and that the Senators are not able to move anywhere within their counties. My colleagues our crime is having good brains and thinking more superiorly. We are being punished for being more thoughtful and mindful. We are also being punished for conducting ourselves in a dignified way. We are legislators who pass a Bill following the Constitution to the letter. Therefore, we met the threshold of people who should be called legislators in this country. That is the crime. As Sen. Wetangula asked, what has this fight been about? In the last Parliament, the tussle between the former Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the National Assembly found its way to State House for they wanted to find a truce. They wanted to find a way to call off this push and pull in our discussions. However, that never yielded any results. Today, you are sitting on that hot seat. I want to tell the Members of the National Assembly that the biggest mistake they will be making is to think that by denying the Senators the kitty they will stop us from doing our work the way we did the last time. The mistake they will be making is to think that we will not legislate, debate eloquently and properly and articulate the issues of this countryif they fail to pass our Bills. I want to give my colleagues an opportunity, for I believe that all of us would want to have a voice on this. In the last Session, as Sen. Murkomen and Sen. Wetangula said, we got to a point where we all had to stand in solidarity. At that time, fear became a strange word to all of us. We resolved not to be cautious about anything because we had to defend ourselves. We are politicians. We found our way to this House via an election by the people. The mandate that has brought us here is given to us by the people of this country who elected us, not anyone else. If that is intended to intimidate us, if push comes to shove, then we shall push and we shall stand with what this House stands for. We accord you the dignity of being the Speaker of this House. The same dignity is accorded to the Speaker of the National Assembly. Therefore, it is expected of him, like we expect of you, that you will preside over the proceedings of this House, not only in a fair manner, but also in an admissible rule that will ensure decorum and also give dignity to your Members. You cannot allow your Members to run rogue and riot. We need to tell the Members of the National Assembly very loudly that any Bill that is passed in the National Assembly is also supposed to find its way into this House. That is the law. We said this last time because they took many Bills for assent without being referred to this House. It is not about what the law says; it is illegal. Therefore, if their Bills will come to this House, we will have to think twice. Do we need to also sit here to 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."
}