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"id": 965391,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
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"legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, just a quick clarification. What I am asking for is not for us to stall Bills coming from there; that is because if we adopt the “eye for an eye” approach, we will all lose our sight. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are Bills that are stuck there, such as the County Attorney Bill, the County Boundaries Bill and the Food Security Bill. Food security is about agriculture, which is devolved, yet they say it is a money Bill. This also affects all the other Bills. The fact is that in this 12th Parliament, there is only one Senator out of 67 who has been able to originate a Bill which has been assented to. It is actually a constitutional question. For me, I am not asking you to go and speak to your colleague or for the Majority Leader to look for Hon. Duale. There needs to be a pronouncement by the Senate on these matters. Under Article 96, as a Senator, I am mandated by the people of Nairobi City County to legislate. What I want is a Communication from the Chair on what our position is, on legislation that is stalling in the other House. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as the Majority Leader said, these discussions have been had from the last Parliament; I am not interested in that. In fact, if anything, I was in the other House in the last Parliament where, as a Member of Parliament, I processed up to six Bills that were assented to ranging from issues of procurement, asset disposal and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). They were passed in this House, including the National Employment Authority (NEA), where I am now in court on a separate matter on that Act. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is really defeating for us to just say, “Until they agree, we need goodwill.” The Senate has to pronounce itself. I am glad that the Majority Leader has actually shown that it is possible for a House to finish itself, based on what is coming from the BBI. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, all I ask for, as a loyal Member of this House, is that you give a position and ruling on this issue. That will be the Senate position, even as the 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."
}