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{
    "id": 903272,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/903272/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 317,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mwangi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 75,
        "legal_name": "Ephraim Mwangi Maina",
        "slug": "ephraim-maina"
    },
    "content": "House of Lords, while in the US and in Canada, it is called the Senate. The Senate has more powers than the lower House because it does much more than the lower House. Particularly, in USA, it even serves for a longer term than the House of Representatives. That is the only way we can clear these small problems of even the National Assembly abusing us when they are debating. We do not abuse them, but they abuse us. We allow them to abuse us because the Senate has people who are older and experienced; so we do not want to be seen to be competing with them. If the Constitution is amended and this Bill is made in line with it, then everything will be clear. The National Assembly will make laws, aware that these laws and everything they do has to pass through the Senate before it goes for assent by the President. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we cannot continue demeaning people who were elected by a bigger population and make them think that they are equal to those who were elected by fewer votes. That is what this Bill is talking about. If it is made in tandem with a changed Constitution, it will be easy to rule this country. We respect leaders who are elected with more votes like the president. However, they must also know that we have been elected by the same people who elected them. We should, therefore, respect each other for us to run this country well. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this country is becoming a police state. A Senator was recently arrested without a good reason. We need a law that will guide the police on how to arrest people who are respected by the electorate. People who are elected to come to this House must be respected, and there must be a way of arresting them, if need be. It is disrespect that is bringing this country down. We are talking of eradicating corruption, yet it is even growing bigger. We are doing a lot of work, thinking that we are saving this country, yet we are just increasing problems. We arrest people and lock them in the cells for a few days, they go to the courts and they are given bonds and, before long, the cases are over. We should commit ourselves to this country. All that we do must be for this country‘s posterity and our children. Thieves used to be very few in the 70‘s and 80‘s, but Kenya is now number 160 out of 180 countries in corruption. It is one of the most corrupt countries. We must do something about this country. The Bill drafted by Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. and Sen. Sakaja can help us improve this country and make it better. However, the changes should be done in line with the changing of the Constitution. We should not continue singing of amending the Constitution; it should be amended now. Time is running out and we are taking too long---"
}