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{
    "id": 984069,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/984069/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 108,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We want to appreciate Sen. Mutahi Kagwe because of his receptive approach. I want to say without fear of contradiction that he has given a good name and face to the Senate; that a former Senator can be more receptive to a crisis like the one we are dealing with. I am sure that if the Chairpersons of the Committee on Health, Committee on Finance and Budget, Committee on Labour and Social Welfare - or any other Senator here wanted to approach that Cabinet Secretary, he will be more than willing for us to approach and contribute to the process ahead of us. Those are the opening remarks I wanted to make, so that when we are debating, no one should imagine the Committee we are establishing is going to take over the responsibilities of any of the Committees. Mr., Speaker, Sir, we are establishing an ad hoc Committee because we are unable as a whole House to sit and think through the various legislative and policy interventions. However, because we can contribute online and through calls, this Committee will collate all our contributions and those of other Kenyans, reduce some to Motions and others to Bills, and When we come back either Tuesday next week or for the other sittings, we will convene and pass the Motion where need be, policy positions where there is need and a Bill where there is need. Secondly, even though we have formed this Committee of seven, we want to encourage the National Assembly when they convene next week – and I have reliable information in the public domain that they will convene next week – to form a similar Committee. We should then utilize the Standing Orders of both Houses for the two Committees to have joint sittings. This is a moment of crisis and not a moment for us to demonstrate supremacy battles; that we have an upper House or a lower House or we have a more superior House or team than the other. We have initiated a process and are encouraging our brothers in the National Assembly, so that we have a united joint position on the issues that are affecting the people of Kenya. We can then pass legislation and policy together. I request the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, who I will consult with, to form a similar Committee. Once that is done, they can have joint sittings, and whatever Bill they will draft, we will pass together. I had the privilege with Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr., Sen. Orengo and others who are not here, to be selected in a Joint Committee to deal with the electoral issues across the country. The Committee had Members in this House and the National Assembly, and I am proud of the work we did in the election laws. If that joint process is applied, we will achieve a lot as Parliament. Mr. Speaker, Sir, thirdly, I want to suggest a few things that the Committee should look at: The Committee should look at ways and means of cushioning Kenyans from the impact of this serious pandemic. In that case, they must have a broad-based stimulus package that will capture the needs of the people of Kenya and the desires of the poor. If we are not going to guarantee food to Kenyans in slums like Mathare, they will walk to Muthaiga and get food for themselves. If we are not going to guarantee food for Kenyans living in Kibera, they will walk on foot to Karen to get food themselves. Countries like Italy and other parts of the world that these measures are being taken to"
}