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{
    "id": 884822,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/884822/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 205,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kiminini, FORD-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Chris Wamalwa",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1889,
        "legal_name": "Chrisantus Wamalwa Wakhungu",
        "slug": "chrisantus-wamalwa-wakhungu"
    },
    "content": "office, the two are totally different. Of course, we know very well that when you speak to such a Bill we only speak to the amendments and I am speaking to the amendments. I want the Senate to know that it is not the MP’s office. They come from the CDFC office. There is a difference between a CDFC office and the MP’s office. Maybe they were not aware. The CDFC members are actually gazetted and there is a clear framework as per the NG-CDF Act on how they are elected. We have representation of the disabled, youth and women. There is a clear framework and so you cannot do a comparative analysis and say that the same thing should apply to the Senate that two people from the Senator’s office should sit in that committee. That is totally wrong. These are officers who have actually been gazetted and there is no way we are going to allow people who have been handpicked to go and sit in this committee. The rivalry that has been happening between the National Assembly and the Senate must come to an end. That is why we should have a referendum so that one can be an upper house and the functions must be very clear. As many others have suggested, the Fourth Schedule is very clear. It has outlined the specific functions of the national Government and the county governments. We just passed the issue of money to be given to the Senate so that they can use it for monitoring and evaluation. Let them concentrate on that. Articles 95 and 96 of the Constitution are clear on what the Senate is supposed to do. It is supposed to follow up on issues to do with the counties. They have nothing to do with these roads. When the Leader of the Majority Party mentioned about the national highways, that is a responsibility of the national Government. That is why the NG-CDF was amended. It is not just CDF. It is called NG-CDF because it is supposed to look at the functions of the national Government as outlined in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution. Some of the amendments that the Senate has put across are dead on arrival. I am humbly requesting the Hon. Members who are here to reject them. We do not have to waste time on this. Let us go to mediation and as we go to mediation, it is high time changed our Standing Orders. This is because when you talk of representation, it must be proportionate. We have 349 Members of Parliament in this House. The “lower House” has 67 Members. When it comes to proportional representation, we cannot be equal. If it is five, we should have three and they have two. That is the principle of equity. There is no way we can be equal. As we move forward in the mediation committee, we should be able to resolve this matter once and for all. We know very well that within three months if the mediation committee will not have resolved the matter, the Bill dies. You can imagine going back again to public participation and starting this Bill afresh. They want to overwork the National Assembly. We call upon our colleagues in the other House, we should respect each other. Let them follow their lane and we follow ours. I know we have checks and balances but at times it is actually being driven by rivalry. I think it is the attitude of rivalry. We should come here and legislate for the benefit of the public and not the benefit of whichever House. So, I am humbly requesting my colleagues to reject this so that we do not waste much time and we go to mediation. I thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I reject the Senate amendments."
}