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{
    "id": 916732,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/916732/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 292,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Outa",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 133,
        "legal_name": "Fredrick Otieno Outa",
        "slug": "fredrick-outa"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the Statement of the Senate Majority Leader and the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget. It has been said over and over again that an empty mind is the devil’s workshop. That is what I am seeing in the National Assembly when they have no other important duties to perform for this Republic of Kenya, now they have narrowed it down to bring competition between the two Houses of Parliament. It has already spelt out in our Constitution that Parliament consists of the Senate and the National Assembly. The Constitution is also very clear of our roles as the Senate. Article 96 (3) of the Constitution gives us the powers to allocate revenues for our counties. It is our duty as the Senate to allocate these revenues. Even despite this being spelled out in simple English language, the National Assembly cannot interpret that it is the duty of the Senate to allocate revenue. Why do they want to deny us that mandate? This is an issue we could not be able to discuss here today, but because they have nothing to do, they have brought us this far to discuss about who is supreme in Parliament. These Members were given powers by the Constitution to represent their people. The Members of Parliament represent people in sub-counties which are within the counties. When they want to prevent money to go to their counties which is meant to develop projects within their sub-counties, we fail to understand what reasoning they have. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we want to encourage the Senate not be intimidated. We need a referendum right now to be able to define how the country will move forward. If we continue to have bickering between who is supreme between the National Assembly and the Senate, we lose focus of what people wants us to do at the national level. I concur with all the Members that this matter must end up in the High Court. 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."
}