Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 957138,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/957138/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 573,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mwangi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 75,
        "legal_name": "Ephraim Mwangi Maina",
        "slug": "ephraim-maina"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. We are going round in vicious circles. I would rather go straight to what is ailing us. Our main problem is the National Assembly which has been compromised, subdued and become part of the Executive. So, we have a Parliament that is not whole because we have the Senate on one side and the National Assembly that has joined the Executive. These problems will be there for a long time. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kenyans fought to delink Parliament from the Executive. Years ago, the National Assembly was a branch of the Office of the President. Parliament had to fight to get independence through the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). Now, we have gone back to where we started. The National Assembly is now a branch of the Executive. So, it will be difficult for us to solve most of our problems. Parliament is supposed to be independent. That is the only way the people of Kenya will feel represented. However, when it comes to a situation where the Executive has bought and subdued the National Assembly, we will have many problems. The solution will be found in the amendment of the Constitution. We should be specific when we are amending the Constitution so that the Senate is given its roles. Every Bill that comes from the National Assembly should pass through the Senate before it goes to the President. It does not matter whether it is a money Bill. This is because the Senate is a constitutional institution in Kenya. We are elected across the counties while Members of the National Assembly are elected with few votes by single constituencies. So, if the votes of Kenyans are the ones to decide who will do what, then the Senate should be superior to the National Assembly. We have gone to many countries and out there the Senate is a powerful House. It is either we have the Senate or we have no Senate."
}