"We Are No Longer Flower Girls" Says Senators.
Published on Friday, 22 November 2013
12:57 //
National News
We are not flower girls, senators
have told the National Assembly in regards to considerations on legislative
matters. The senators yesterday vowed they will no longer stomach being
sidelined by the lower House, while Kericho Senator Charles Keter proposed that
the Senate starts sharing the mandate to originate Bills. The tough talking
lawmakers took into account the Supreme Court ruling in an advisory opinion
they sought, after the National Assembly ignored their input in the Division
for Revenue Bill. The legislators argued that the court ruled that the
legislative process especially on matters devolution should be tackled by the
two Houses of Parliament. Senate acknowledged that on Wednesday, Mandera
Senator Billow Kerrow raised numerous issues on the legislative process in
regards to the contributions to the draft Public Finance Management (Uwezo
Fund) Regulations 2013. Rule of law Senators Hassan Omar (Mombasa), Boni
Khalwale (Kakamega), Amos Wako (Busia) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet)
questioned why the National Assembly did not accord Senate the privilege to
ventilate on the issue. “These are important issues calling for the attention
of Parliament,” stressed the Speaker Ethwee Ethuro. “We had to make a decision
as to whether we are promoting the rule of law or we are living in the stone
age where we have to fight with rungus and pangas,” said Ethuro. Majority
leader Kithure Kindiki said it was high time the two Houses stopped unnecessary
exchanges. Kiraitu Murungi (Meru) cautioned that senators should not be
“reduced to mere political flower girls”.
Adapted from the Standard.
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