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{
    "id": 833547,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/833547/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 166,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, our experience in this Parliament has shown that members of public are slowly understanding and appreciating their role in so far as using their institutions such as the Senate. If I am not wrong, statistics would show that Senators entertain the highest number of petitions from members of the public. These petitions have had very positive impact. I am happy today that one of the dailies positively reported the Petition by Sen. Mwaura concerning the making of coins, notes and currency that will make it easy for those who cannot see to recognize the different amounts of currency. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, some of the petitions that have come to this House have led to solutions to problems. This includes issues to do with dams, for example, the issue of Solai Dam. The Committee did a fantastic job and the recommendations are now being implemented by the enforcement agencies. It has also raised the necessary awareness to ensure that the menace that relates to construction of substandard dams is addressed. Therefore, what Sen. Judith Pareno has said is--- In my first reading of this Bill, I concluded that it may not have been necessary to have a Bill. However, we have no capacity at the national level to force every county assembly to come up with a procedure in their Standing Orders on Petitions. Since the Constitution says that we enact laws that will be applied across the country, I have changed my mind and support the position that we must provide the principles and the framework that will make it mandatory for every county assembly to provide for a procedure in their Standing Orders of how citizens of this Republic will present their petitions. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I like the fact that first, the petition must be simple. Government and governance were meant to be simple. The intention under this Constitution and the language used in drafting it was so simplified to make it possible for a common mwananchi to be able to read, appreciate and understand. In fact, our older Constitution was clear that interpretation of the Constitution was the job of the Judiciary. However, in the current Constitution of Kenya 2010, it is the duty of every citizen of this Republic to interpret the Constitution as it applies. It is only that the last institution of interpretation is the Judiciary. However, every one of us has a responsibility to read, appreciate, understand and apply the Constitution based on their understanding of what it stands for. I am happy that, to start with, the Mover of this Bill has provided in Clause 3 which states:-"
}