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{
    "id": 872824,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/872824/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 437,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, these are concerns that we all had with this process. In fact, it is interesting for my good friend, Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr., to say that we would then schedule this Bill as a priority and leave ours, yet I do not sit in the Senate Business Committee (SBC) where he sits. The decision that had been made in the SBC was that if, indeed, the Bill is the same in content and character, and we do not agree, we will go to mediation because we have amendments and we have sat for full day sessions with more than 17 institutions. We have a lot of amendments that we want to bring to this Bill. We have also discussed with the National Assembly and told them the kind of amendments that we have. If they decide that once we have passed it to not pass it, then the Bill is lost. If the Bill is lost, we still have our Bill. Our interest is to make sure that the workers of the county governments ultimately get a retirement scheme. However, if we decide to hold this one in abeyance as well and then deal with the other one, we will be the ones perpetuating that confusion. Those cartels who wanted the confusion wanted us to have two Bills of the same content, form and character debated at the same time so that we extend that process. We are fighting them by shortening and finishing a Bill whether it is this one or ours. Madam Temporary Speaker, the SBC is at liberty. If they say we drop this Bill, I will be happy. In fact, I will be happier because I would rather push a Bill where I am the Mover; I am not a Mover of this one. The other one has passed the Second Stage and is at the Committee of the Whole Stage. We can look at the amendments that are there. I have decided not to look at my interests as a Mover of a Bill. In the best interest of the workers, we should pass this Bill as soon as possible. I would like to persuade the Senator because he knows the legislative process that the fastest route is this Bill which is the same as what we had and has gone through First Reading, Second Reading, Committee Stage and Third Reading and has come to the Senate where we are at the Second Reading. If we pass it with our amendments, have mediation and agree, in less than a month, our workers will have a Bill. If we do not, the longer route is to go on with ours; finish it with amendments, send it there for First and Second Readings, Committee Stage and then it comes back here for concurrence. But whichever way the Senate decides, we are comfortable as a Committee; I think we have had it for far too long and we are comfortable whichever way."
}