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{
    "id": 895042,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/895042/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 249,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": "Okong‟o Omogeni. Sen. Okong‟o Omogeni, you must make sure you take us to the school so that we return the visit that they have made to us today. Having said that, I now come to this Motion. I join the Senate Majority Leader in saying that some of the reports which the President is required to table in Parliament in accordance with Article 132 of the Constitution; is not a ritual. The fact that those reports are tabled in Parliament rather than any other organ of Government is critical. I support him fully in suggesting that these reports should go to the relevant Committees of Parliament, so that they are interrogated such that next time the President is tabling reports, there should be an input from Parliament, and more particularly, the Senate because they concern areas of importance that should be interrogated by Parliament. There are other reports that are similarly required to be laid in Parliament, for example, the reports of independent offices and commissions. They are required yearly to table reports in Parliament – both the National Assembly and the Senate. I would follow the Senate Majority Leader in similarly making it a requirement, if not in the Standing Orders, but by convention; that these reports are interrogated by various Committees of Parliament. If need be thereafter, discussed through a Motion formally moved in the Senate. Madam Temporary Speaker, I also appreciate the fact that the President commended Parliament for what it has done. It is not often that Parliament is commended. Sometimes when you go out there, Parliament is normally an object of criticism, if not ridicule. However, this time the President recognised the work of Parliament in various responsibilities and mandates. That is not just in regard to our legislative functions, but in approval and ratification of reports and protocols which was something that is unprecedented. I have been in this House for quite a bit of time, but I do not remember a Presidential Speech where there was an appreciation of this nature of the work being done or has been done by Parliament. I noted that some of the Bills that have gone through this House, including the Petroleum Act, the Energy Act and the other legislations which are pending because of mediation undertaken by both Houses of Parliament - this again, shows the appreciation of what Parliament and the Senate has done. In relation to what the Senate Majority Leader said, the President has to know that he has a unifying function when presiding over the three arms of Government; he has to protect the sovereignty of the nation and protect the Constitution. In fact, one of the roles of the President is to defend and protect the Constitution. When the President speaks as the Head of State, he can take issue with Parliament and the Judiciary and when he is making a statement as Head of Government, he can be criticised and he has to be very conscious of his responsibilities as Head of Government. Madam Temporary Speaker, I would plead that instead of us going to the Supreme Court, he should take a second look at the advisory opinion given by the Supreme Court. He should look at Article 110 and what the court said. If he has to assent to a Bill, he should find out if the Senate played its role on that Bill. The role of the Senate is not just considering the Bill and passing it, it could be a peripheral role which the Speaker of the Senate plays on behalf of the Senate by giving concurrence if the Bill concerns counties or otherwise. If that is not possible, then each arm of Government must always fight to keep its territory. 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."
}