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{
    "id": 916509,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/916509/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 69,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "“The legislative authority of the Republic is derived from the people and, at the national level, is vested in and exercised by Parliament.” That emphasis is important because one of the roles of Parliament is to make laws. I have said on the Floor of this House that when you talk about laws being passed by Parliament, they have to be approved by both Speakers that they do not or they concern counties. There are many other things including amending the Constitution. It is stated that Parliament shall protect the Constitution and promote the democratic governance of the Republic and no person or body, other than Parliament, has the power to make provision having the force of law in Kenya except under authority conferred by the Constitution or by legislation. When you read Articles 94, 95 and 96, you will realise that the only responsibility that is limited is law making on Bills concerning counties. In terms of investigating and performing responsibilities, you can look at Article 124 which recognises both Houses of Parliament. Article 124(1) states that:- “Each House of Parliament may establish committees, and shall make Standing Orders for the orderly conduct of its proceedings, including the proceedings of its committees.” That means that committees of Parliament have equal jurisdiction in investigating any matter across the country because there are people who lie to themselves that the Senate should investigate certain issues. We must make it clear that there is no limitation on what the Senate can inquire into, in this great Republic of Kenya. Reports of the Senate, just like reports of the National Assembly and county assemblies, carry the same weight because they capture issues affecting the people of Kenya since all of us represent the people of Kenya. Lastly, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I appreciate my friends in the National Assembly who are panicking because I hold the position of the Senate Majority Leader and Sen. Orengo holds the Office of the Senate Minority Leader. I have worked with Sen. Orengo for over six years and we do not suffer from an inferiority complex. In fact, we do not wish to be called “big men”. Our responsibility here is to be servants of the people of Kenya. They go around saying that their offices in the National Assembly should be recognised and offices of the Senate should not. I would like to tell those suffering from inferiority complex that we are not interested in having a fight with them. We are more interested in what we can deliver as Members of Parliament for the benefit of the people of Kenya. The fact that the Senate Majority Leader is leading a process of going to court to establish the truth on laws of the Republic of Kenya should inform those characters that we are beyond intimidation because we are focused on universal matters and not matters related to small offices. If someone wants to be called a big man, he can focus on that. For us, whether you are just a Senator, a Member of a committee, a Majority Leader or a Chairperson of a committee, we recognise that we are holding responsibility given by the people for the benefit of the people of Kenya. We will remain focused and our responsibility will not be dissuaded. 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."
}