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{
    "id": 959469,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/959469/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 239,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13162,
        "legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
        "slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
    },
    "content": "I would have voted “No,” and asked the Mediation Committee to go back and mediate. This is because I believe in the content and composition of the people we send to mediate. The only problem is that the other House sent warmongers, mercenaries and fighters. These are people whose approach to mediation is banging tables, issuing threats, calling people names and invoking names from high places. I have confidence in the team we sent to mediate, but the manner in which we have treated the Report they have brought back to us is not proper. If what is going to happen is that we send people for mediation, and when they come back, we then insist that there shall be no debate but just to vote, then it will be useless to have a Senator – for instance, from Homa Bay or Turkana – sitting here, because we are being reduced to voting machines. Finally, there are various bodies that follow parliamentary proceedings, particularly in budget making. I know that the International Budget Partnership (IBP) and other bodies have analysed the manner in which Parliament passes budgets. For the five years that I have been in this Senate, they comment that every year, Parliament spends so much time on irrelevancies. When it comes to the most important function for Parliament, which is budget making, we take positions and take a vote as a result of institutional bullying. Bullying is done by coalitions, parties and forces outside Parliament. Even though I am happy that counties will get some money, I am disappointed that this Senate has failed to come up with a strategy that will secure its relevance in the division of revenue and budgeting matters for counties. Madam Temporary Speaker, I urge the leadership of this House that when we ventilate on these issues, we are not pointing fingers at a particular individual. When we were out there, having a cup of tea, the Senate Majority Leader seemed to blow up when some of us felt that we needed to debate before voting. It is not about the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, the people we sent for mediation or the Speaker, but this House collectively. It is about Devolution. It is a sad day when the other House is debating this matter and taking advantage of the opportunity to belittle the Senate. We have an inferiority complex that we cannot trust ourselves to engage in debate that will inform and improve this process in the future. I rest my case, Madam, Temporary Speaker."
}