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{
    "id": 984321,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/984321/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 107,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, sometimes the journey becomes so difficult. I have faced personal problem because of standing with this House. However, we cannot waiver. As the Senate, we must decide not to use the mandate of this House to do our day-to-day politics. We must continue standing firm. In 2013, we stood so firm on the division of revenue; that there was no Majority or Minority side. There was no Jubilee Party or Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD). That was because we had the interest of the people at heart. Sometimes one can get tired because of being beaten, harassed or called names. However, we must exercise patience and commitment. If you trip towards the end of the race, you will not get a medal. We should not wash away the hard work that we have done for the last seven years by falling in to the trap of our political parties, factions of our political parties or our interests for the 2022 General Elections. I pray that we may remain firm as a Senate. I said something on my social media accounts, and I would like to repeat it in this House. Maybe people like Sen. Orengo have seen better days before. However, in my short time of seven years in politics, I feel that the independence and usefulness of Parliament as a House that negotiates on behalf of the people have been watered down. I watch countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA) and others that we admire, and see how the legislature is involved in the national conversation and negotiation on behalf of the people, whether it is on the COVID-19 or any other budget. You will see that The Congress is involved in the USA. The Government of the USA always wants to reach out to the chairpersons of the various committees of the Congress, be it the majority or the minority side. The Congress is consulted in the USA because it has protected its usefulness and mandate. I keep emphasizing that even for us in the Jubilee Party, our usefulness can only be achieved if we still have anything left of us as a mandate, as a Parliament. However, if Parliament is reduced to a rubberstamp, where we only come to vote here and go because few belong to different parties, we will fall into the trap of the old Parliament, where Members of Parliament (MPs) had to pass through State House to go home. This House more than ever – we do not know how long we will be here or hold these positions – must continue fighting for the independence of Parliament in everything we do."
}