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{
    "id": 868503,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/868503/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 179,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Omogeni",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13219,
        "legal_name": "Erick Okong'o Mogeni",
        "slug": "erick-okongo-mogeni"
    },
    "content": "When the Americans passed their Constitution in 1787, the Senate in America was not the Upper House. It was also modeled in a fashion that made it to look like it was the “weaker House” but with time the Americans amended the Constitution and strengthened the Senate and made it the Upper House. Until the 17th amendment which was done in 1913, it is the Congress that used to pick Senators. Senators never used to be elected in the United States of America (USA) but after the 17th amendment, Senators were and are now elected directly by the people and are Members of the Upper House. They veto Bills from the United States (US) Congress. That should also be done here. That is in recognition of the fact that unlike congressmen who represent averagely about 700,000 people, people who serve in the Senate represent millions of people of various states. In fact, the Senator for California represents over 17 million people. Therefore, as we endorse the list of people who will serve in the Senate Business Committee, let us have it in the back of our mind that it is a task. We want to take it as a challenge; that we, as Members of this Senate, must fight hard to strengthen the power of the Senate. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I hope that the people who will serve in the Senate Business Committee will be reflecting on what is happening in this country. If you listen to the voices from Rift Valley, farmers are complaining because they are not able to deliver their maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). They are not even guaranteed of getting fertilizer and yet, that is the basket that should serve all Kenyans. So, we should prioritize the issues that are key to the interest of this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, talking about security, I read about a human rights activist who dropped her daughter to school last week on Thursday, and she has never been found to date. We are talking about a woman who boarded a taxi from her home in Dandora and her body was found in a mortuary. These are our daughters and we must care about them. So, as the Senate Business Committee brings business for deliberation, let us remember the security of Kenyans. Mr. Speaker, Sir, where we come from, the boda boda operators are harassed by the policemen day in, day out. Poor people whose profit is less than Kshs500 are facing extortion from policemen who collect Kshs200 from every motorcyclist every day. These people are trying to eke out a living for themselves. They are not thieves but people in genuine business. So, as we resume business, let us listen to the voices of the common"
}