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{
    "id": 982215,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/982215/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 85,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Farhiya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13179,
        "legal_name": "Farhiya Ali Haji",
        "slug": "farhiya-ali-haji"
    },
    "content": "Kenyatta has emphasised many times how much he wants corruption to end as part of his legacy. The idea of fighting corruption is good for this country, its economy and the future generation. I feel that this year is the defining moment for the Senate. Towards the end of next year, people will be on election mode. Therefore, we should pass more Bills that are life-changing to the wananchi whose taxes we are spending in this House and who elected us. We need to make sure that they get value for money from this House by passing Bills that will eradicate poverty. Every shilling that goes to somebody’s pocket is equivalent to health services denied to a poor person. It is also another shilling that is wasted, yet it could have been used to educate someone and gotten them out of the shackles of poverty. I agree with the Senate Majority Leader that we should be united for a purpose that ensures that we enhance the lives of Kenyans who elected us to these positions. With regards to Bills being passed, let us have a system or a log such that Bills are passed according to the needs of the country and in the order in which they are received; first in, first out. There should be a fair way of generating Bills, and they should be passed on time, so that people do not feel that their Bills are stuck. One of the Bills - I am not sure if it was published - which I think will be a game changer for Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) is co-sponsored by Sen. Sakaja and I. It deals with prompt payment. I talked about that Bill during the meeting with the Kenya Private Sector Association (KEPSA). We need to pass it. However, a question still arises. The Speaker and the leadership of this House need to go and have a serious discussion with the National Assembly, to ensure that the Bills that we pass in this House see the light of day. We should not waste our time debating Bills and it ends up being an exercise in futility. We have lawyers in this House and others in the other House who support us. The legal officers in this House, who I respect a lot, do a lot in terms of preparation of the Bills and support to Senators, to ensure that we come up with quality Bills. Unfortunately, those Bills die a natural death in the National Assembly, and I think that is a bad taste in the mouth. We should make it different this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity."
}