Wednesday, 17th July, 2013

Order, hon. Senators! Do we have a quorum?

consulted the Clerk-at-the-Table) I am informed we do not have a quorum. Please, can the Division Bell be rung?

Hon. Senators, you will realise that we still have no quorum. An hon. Senator: Bw. Naibu Spika, si ungoje kidogo!

Si jambo la kungoja kidogo lakini ni kufuata kanuni za Seneti. The rules are clear! I order that the Bell be rung for another five minutes. After that, if we do not realise a quorum, it is mandatory that the House must be adjourned. So, I hope that we will get a quorum in the next five minutes.

Hon. Senators, to me, it appears that we still do not have a quorum. I would like hon. Senators to, please, consider the provisions of Standing Order No.35 properly. It says it is mandatory that after the Division Bell is rung for a further five minutes and we do not raise a quorum, we adjourn. We cannot continue if we do not have quorum.

A Hon. Senators, Standing Order No.35 (2)(a) says:-

“If on the count under paragraph (1) a quorum does not appear to be present, the Speaker or the Chairperson shall cause the division bell to be rung as on a division, and if no quorum is present at the expiration of the ten minutes-