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{
    "id": 903237,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/903237/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 282,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Pareno",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13180,
        "legal_name": "Judith Ramaita Pareno",
        "slug": "judith-ramaita-pareno"
    },
    "content": "This Bill is an answer to the problems that we have had with regard to the handling of Bills and the nature of their determinations by our Speakers. It is sad that we have come to an extent of doing a Bill to sort ourselves out. For a long time, we have wondered whether our two Speakers, according to the constitutional provisions, sit down to concur and agree on which Bill should go to the Senate or the National Assembly. If they have been sitting to get concurrence, it means that we have not felt that being implemented and the decision has not been done and, therefore, we will sort them out through a law. It would have been easier for them to do it without a law. However, be that as it may, we are happy that we finally have a Bill that comes out to sort this mess and iron out the differences between the Senate and the National Assembly. This law will ensure that they will not have to handle matters that are supposed to be handled by the Senate or the Senate to handle matters that can be easily handled by the National Assembly. It would lead to mutual agreement, concurrence and orderly business in terms of what the Senate and the National Assembly should handle. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, at the moment, we are handling several mediations. For example, mediation on the Irrigation Bill, the Warehousing Receipt Systems Bill and another Bill. A lot of concurrence would help us sort out most of these things. We would, therefore save on time on mediation and on a lot of things. Consequently, we will be effective in terms of giving service to the citizens. I am sure that this Bill will enable smooth running of Business. With concurrence, I am sure that mediation committees will come in only on rare occasions. Most of the time, it will be easier for them to agree and we will move forward as the Senate. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this will also help us a lot in view of the fact that we had duplication of Bills. We have had cases where Members have indicated that a Bill is drafted here, but within no time, the same Bill with almost the same provisions is in the National Assembly. Therefore, duplication will be a thing of the past. Once there is concurrence that a certain Bill should be in this House, it will not be easier for Members to start duplicating Bills in the manner that we have seen in the past. I remember there was a Bill in Second Reading here and, at the same time, it was at Third Reading at the National Assembly. When we looked at that Bill, it was the same Bill, word by word. Therefore, this particular Bill that Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. and Sen. Sakaja have come in with will help us to iron out some of these things and also stop this kind of duplication of Bills in this House and in the other House. This is the way forward. I hope that our Speakers will follow the provisions of this Bill to ensure that there is concurrence at all times. They should also remember that this is a provision that is provided for by the Articles of our Constitution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to support."
}