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{
    "id": 936275,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/936275/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 396,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kasanga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13185,
        "legal_name": "Sylvia Mueni Kasanga",
        "slug": "sylvia-mueni-kasanga"
    },
    "content": "The other thing that came out of that forum that was very interesting - and all of you will find this very interesting - is the amount of money it takes when you take a case through a judicial process vis-a-vis the savings you would have if you did an alternative justice system. The savings are in terms of money and time. You can imagine that there is no question about it. We know court cases that go on for years, and that lawyer gets paid very time he appears for a mention and the mention is adjournment. We heard one of the Senators who was talking about a judge who would just adjourn cases and go for tea. Imagine your legal person has appeared, he is charging you for that time, and your case is never heard repeatedly; vis-a-viz an alternative dispute resolution process where we can sit in two sittings, finish that matter and have an award drawn that is enforceable. The statistics were read out in that forum, and again, it was amazing. We do not have local statistics and data, like many other areas in our country. The person who gave the presentation drew statistics from the USA and Britain, because they actually have numbers. You could see the difference in dollars and pounds in terms of savings - both in time and money - when you look at the two systems against each other. It was very interesting, and you can imagine Kenyans were getting very excited with the conversation that came out of that. This is how we need to be looking at it, not in any other way. We need to look at it in terms of the savings that were are making to Kenyans when we use these processes. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as I wind up, something that was said here is that even as we sit here as leaders, we are conciliators and mediators. Whether you like it or not, your constituents come to you and you will be resolving disputes. We have seen it, time and again. I need to remind Members that you do not need to be a lawyer to be a mediator, negotiator or a conciliator. You just need to be a people person, and if it is a specific issue, it is better if you are an industry expert. That way, then you can deal with the issue. Following that first engagement during the Breakfast Session that we had in the Senate in 2017, I want to encourage Members that a little formal training is of great advantage. Your constituents look up to you because you are out there. You can be a serious dispute resolver, and there are those who you can even charge for your services. They trust you because you are their leader. I would look forward to guiding anyone. I had a few converts, but not enough of the leaders were coverts. I would wish for a few more converts, because it is a field that I have been in. I practice both architecture and arbitration. It is very fulfilling when you get members to resolve their disputes without too many sittings. It actually feels very fulfilling. It is very good. Additionally, you will have saved many people a lot of money because you will have unlocked that impasse in the easiest way possible. I want to again acknowledge all the Senators who have contributed. This House has passed some very critical Bills, and this is one of those. I can tell you that the Chief Justice is looking forward to seeing how far we can go. I have pledged to work with all the stakeholders; I am not working in isolation already, because even the drafting of this Bill was a concerted effort amongst several other stakeholders. I will continue in that way. I have taken heed to the fact that we need not make the process complex, but I am 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."
}