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"id": 841486,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/841486/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Deputy Speaker",
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"content": "move this Motion and in his absence, the Senator for Narok County, Sen. Ledama Olekina. However, the Vice Chairperson has denied that he has been designated to move this Motion. Further to that, the points of order raised by the Majority Leader and a few other Senators who spoke, including Sen. Wamatangi, have alluded to the fact that this matter should not be debated because some allegations have been made against Members of this Committee and which are before the House Committee on Powers and Privileges. Therefore, given the grave nature of the allegations, a decision on whether or not this Report should be presented, ought to be predicated on the acquittal or otherwise of those Members of this Committee. If I get the arguments right, this is because if, for example, the findings on those allegations are in the affirmative, then the Report would have credibility issues and expose this Senate to ridicule. I have also listened keenly to the opposing arguments from Sen. Orengo, Sen. Malalah, Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr., Sen. Wetangula and others; including that this matter is in the Order Paper and it should be debated. Two, this matter was put there after being discussed in the SBC and, therefore, the SBC‟s decision that we should move this matter is good enough. I have also listened to the argument that the reason we should go on with this debate is that the findings of the House Committee on Powers and Privileges are immaterial on these allegations. Hon. Senators, I would like to rule as follows: That the reason I gave a bit of time on this matter is because for the first time in the history of this Senate - and I have been a Member of this House for more than six years now - this House has been faced with unusual allegations touching on the integrity of some of our colleagues. We, as the Senate, have always held our heads high in this country for the longest time possible as the “upper House”. We have held our heads high in this country as a House that cannot entertain even the remotest imaginations that a Senator can be corrupted in order to interfere with the findings of a matter as grave as public land, which allegedly has been acquired and sold back illegally to the public. Therefore, we should not skirt around the topic. We have an issue - and with due respect to Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. - and when you have a problem, you face it, you do not try to hide it from the public. That is an act of responsibility. Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. usually tells us not to wash our dirty linen in public. However, we are not washing dirty linen; we are just appreciating that there are certain allegations which have been made against Members of this House and that is reality. Secondly, a Committee of this House chaired by no lesser than the Speaker of this House is currently engaged in investigating those allegations in accordance to the Senate Standing Orders. Ordinarily, when a matter has been referred to a Committee, you would expect a report. That is why, Sen. Nyamunga, I wanted to know whether you are seized of that matter – but not the deliberations – because up to now, I am not aware that the matter has been reported back to this House. As I conclude, I am aware that an issue was pointed out by the Senator for Kisumu County, Sen. Outa, regarding Standing Order No.213, which says that when you have a report of a Select Committee, the Chairperson shall be the Mover of that Motion and in his absence, the Vice Chairperson. In the absence of both of them, another 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."
}