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{
    "id": 841146,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/841146/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 62,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "position of the Senate in devolution. They need a snapshot of a lecture. In as much as we are not responsible for the ignorance of legislators, including those in the other House who do not understand devolution, but as good citizens of this Republic, we can donate our time. Sen. Orengo, being a senior counsel and Sen. Wetangula, who is here, should once in a while, meet some of these Members of Parliament (MPs) over a cup of tea and run them through the reasons why, in the architecture of our Constitution, the Senate plays a very critical role in so far as devolution is concerned. That is why I encourage our Senators to be in Eldoret because one of the MPs from Uasin Gishu County was ranting about the position and place of the Senate. This might give us a great opportunity to run him through what the Senate is all about. We will invite him and educate him to help him understand that you do not make law or try processes that are in vanity. We will also educate him that whatever amendment he wants to bring in order to do away with the Senate must come here and we cannot shoot ourselves on the foot. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the only argument I hear out there is that they want to remove the Senate so as to reduce the number of legislators in the country and, thus, reduce costs. If you wanted to reduce costs, it will be simple. If it comes to which one of the two Houses you want to keep so as to reduce costs, the House with 350 people will be the one to be sacrificed for this one, which has 47 legislators representing the whole country and all counties. Once again, I repeat that we are not responsible for those who have bad mathematics background. However, we have a responsibility, as a nation, to give free education to some of these people. Eldoret provides us a great opportunity to start and get rid of some hangovers from people, who may not have supported the Constitution before and who still think that they will have an opportunity to do away with institutions of the Government such as the Senate, which plays a critical role in the place, architecture and design of our devolved system of Government. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir and hon. Senators, I request that you avail yourselves during these inaugural county sittings of the Senate as it will serve as a benchmark for future sittings in the counties. I also urge that we dedicate our time to the scheduled activities that have been approved by the Senate Business Committee (SBC) in consultation with the Standing Committees and the Uasin Gishu County Government. The detailed programme of events is annexed to this Statement. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I, hereby, lay the Statement on the Table of the House."
}