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{
    "id": 903234,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/903234/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 279,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Were",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13183,
        "legal_name": "Petronila Were Lokorio",
        "slug": "petronila-were-lokorio"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to contribute to this Bill sponsored by Sen. Sakaja and Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. The Bill is long overdue. The issue of determining whether a Bill has matters concerning counties or is a money Bill has caused the Business of Senate to stagnate for a very long time. However, with the Joint Committee and a certificate certifying that there was concurrence from both Houses before a Bill is assented to, it will bring order into the conduct of Parliamentary Business. It is also important that we continue to appreciate that Kenya has a bicameral Parliament. So long as we have devolution, we should continue to appreciate the role of Senate. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are very many Bills from the Senate that are being declared as Money Bills. Consequently, they are not handled by the National Assembly and completely ignored. They could at least try and take over those Bills and deal with them, because we are both making laws, not for ourselves per se, but for the people of Kenya. That should be our driving force. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I look forward to that good Speaker that Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. was talking about, who will determine the distinctive roles of the National Assembly and the Senate and give the Senate the respect it deserves. Senators have been talking about Bills from the Eleventh Parliament. However, even in this Twelfth Parliament, there are Bills that have gone to the National Assembly which have the title ‗county‘ on them, and are still stuck there without being handled. They have been declared Money Bills and abandoned. It is as if we were making those Bills for ourselves and not the people of Kenya. There are Bills that counties are waiting for to strengthen devolution and their work that are not being handled. However, when National Assembly Bills come here, we are put under pressure to pass them. Since we are the so called ―big brother,‖ we are quick to pass them without asking what is happening to our Bills that have been abandoned at the National Assembly. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill by Sen. Sakaja and Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. is a very important one. It should be fully supported and allowed to move as fast as possible so that we can finally have order in Parliament. With those few remarks, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to support."
}