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{
    "id": 833715,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/833715/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 334,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Pareno",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13180,
        "legal_name": "Judith Ramaita Pareno",
        "slug": "judith-ramaita-pareno"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, there were concerns by Senators that have contributed that this is just another Bill that might go into the shelves and collect dust. We are bitter about Bills not being passed and approved by the ‘Lower’ House. There is this new or old term that they keep referring to as ‘money Bills’. You wonder which Bill is not a money Bill. Therefore, we might have to go for that final interpretation of the court on what Bills are money Bills. Concern has been raised that this is just another good Bill that might help the counties. We are here to represent the counties, make it easy for them and ensure that devolution is smooth and running. However, if we do Bills that will be stored in the shelves to collect dust, it will not make it easy for us to have a proper devolution. Therefore, it is time for us, the Senate, to reconsider getting proper interpretations of what we need to do to ensure that our work is smooth and running. Madam Temporary Speaker, there was a suggestion that we think about the Kiswahili and English language and how people can submit Petitions in their languages. A lot of issues have come up on how diverse we are. However, we must appreciate our diversity but in unity. Therefore, these are some of the suggestions. I strongly go for the argument by Sen. Sakaja that if we breakdown our Petitions into every other language, it might become difficult. May be, we might have to borrow what the courts do; they listen to every other tribe and language. However, they have interpreters who interpret everything that needs interpretation. These interpreters are paid by the court to interpret so that nobody is left out. Therefore, we might have to adapt that kind of system so that at the end of the day, we do not breakdown everything into our languages. Otherwise, it might then disintegrate us instead of bringing us together as a country. There is also a submission that we should consider in this Bill that minor technicalities should not knock out a Petition. This is a very important aspect that we need to note. There are suggestions that we cannot just knock out a Petition because it is not addressed to the clerk of the assembly. However, we can broaden it to ensure that technicalities do not defeat a genuine Petition by the citizens. This is noted. This Bill was meant to help and make it easy for citizens to petition, communicate and to have a linkage between the county assemblies and the people and for the people to have a place where their grievances are heard. This Bill was meant to actualize that. Therefore, it cannot come in to consider technicalities against the interests of public good. Madam Temporary Speaker, there is also a very strong argument of giving too much power to the clerk. For example, a clerk can knock out a Petition and it will not reach the assembly because he has a criterion that he uses to consider which one is admissible and which one is not. Therefore, we need to check whether there is too much powers to the clerk. Although, the clerk being the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the county assembly in some sort, could also have certain powers to thrush out a lot of things. There is already so much that is in the hands of a Speaker and all of us. It is always good to delegate some of these powers to the clerks for ease of our work. That is one aspect that we will relook at as we try to modify and have a version that is acceptable to all. Sen. Cherargei brought about a thinking that not every other clerk is good and I might need to look at a modified version that will not allow any malice or political The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}