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{
    "id": 909171,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/909171/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 349,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "be suspended within that period. We have due notice to be given so that no trips are planned around that period to allow all of us to go to Kitui and enjoy the interactions with the citizens from that part of the country. Madam Temporary Speaker, finally, I do not want to talk much, but I am proud of this House. I challenge us to continue highlighting issues. The SBC directed the Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights to audit all the legislation that we think is unconstitutional. I was told that the other two Bills on amendments of the sports law and another one on national cohesion are almost ready to be presented to the President for assent. The spirit of the term national cohesion alone should start by respecting the institutions that deal with the law. There should be proper cohesion and coexistence between both chambers of Parliament. I have shared my views with the relevant institutions to look at that very important legislation, so that it comes to this House first. Therefore, I challenge the Senate, including the Minority side, that we should not blame ourselves. We should not use the handshake moment to go to sleep when it comes to our responsibility in so far as oversighting national and county governments, protecting and defending devolution. Many people who earlier spoke here talked about the seriousness of this House and that they want to protect it. We are not protecting the Senate for the sake of it. The question we are asking ourselves is why we need a strong working Senate. It is because we want a strong working devolution. The Senate is just an institution to facilitate what is more important, which is devolution. Madam Temporary Speaker, when we were debating the security laws, Sen. Orengo spoke in the Chamber and directed his comments to Sen. Beth Mugo. However, he was looking at me. He said something that has remained important for each one of us, now that all of us who are here must look at the question of posterity. In every law or Motion that we pass in this House, we must always remember that; suppose it was applied to us at our weakest point, would we be happy with that legislation? That is the same thing. We should also ask ourselves: Suppose we were governors, part of the national Government or we get the worst President in future who does not believe outrightly on devolution, are the things we pass and the precedence we are setting in this House of such nature that it will protect us at that point in time when we have the worst people in office? Therefore, we must ensure that this Senate works. Madam Temporary Speaker, I have told Members of the National Assembly to assume that they are governors, Members of County Assembly (MCAs) or Senators. It is not a hypothetical argument. I suspect that one of the eight leaders in the National Assembly from Majority or Minority side will come here, not because they want to. They will try to run for other seats, for example, that of the governor. However, suddenly, they will find themselves in a situation where the only seat they will be able to win is a senatorial seat and then they will come to the Senate. I am not casting aspersions on those who were in the National Assembly in the last term and came to this House. However, most of them had very low opinion of the Senate. I can say that without any fear of contradiction. I saw Sen. Sakaja and Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr., last night debating seriously why the Senate is important and, so 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."
}