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{
"id": 1496952,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496952/?format=api",
"text_counter": 174,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I will go to some of the provisions. I am sure people are asking themselves; do I need a permit to conduct a fundraising appeal? How would they know? Some of the criteria here is very dense. It says that for one to conduct a public appeal fundraising or a harambee, they must obtain a permit. So, a person cannot conduct a fundraising appeal unless the person has applied for and obtained a permit. A person who intends to conduct the fundraising appeal shall apply to the Cabinet Secretary as the case may be. What information do they need in this application? They will need information around the full name and address of the person intending to conduct the fundraising appeal; the purpose of the fundraising appeal, the necessity of conducting the fundraising appeal, the date on which the fundraising is to be conducted and the names and contact details of the persons assisting in conducting the appeal. You will need the amount intended to be raised through the appeal. You will need the estimated expenses to be incurred to conducting the appeal. You will need a statement regarding whether any monies have been received with respect to the matter pertaining to the fundraising appeal from any person prior to the date of the proposed fundraising appeal; and the place at which the collection is intended to be made and the expected time frame for the appeal. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, me saying that was a mouthful. I even struggled to say all of that criteria. Now imagine someone who is in a marginalized group or in a marginalized part of the country who has no clue about this Bill. How will this reach them? Imagine those who are illiterate, trying to put all this together in the midst of bereavement, how are they going to manage? I am trying to think about PWDs, especially those with intellectual or severe disabilities. I am thinking about minors who may need to conduct fundraising appeals for one reason or the other. I am thinking about people who are indignant, who need to also adhere to these provisions and these criteria. I feel like we may be over-legislating and missing the intent or the spirit of a fundraiser because we are trying to control, cure or curb corruption, as has been alluded to by some other Members who have contributed. We cannot cut off our noses on our faces. It is difficult to continue thinking about how we are going to realize and implement this in the best way possible because it will need a buy-in from the general public. I am in the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare that considered this Bill. We listened to many public participation contributions and we went through the matrix. A lot of it was not in support of the Bill, if I am completely honest. I am sure that the Majority Leader is aware of all this through a report the Chairperson will make available to him. It was not just, individuals but we also had had institutions like the Council of Governors (CoG) and many other stakeholders. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I will share a couple of these thoughts that I found interesting and powerful when I listened to them. They opposed the sweeping provisions of this Bill in general like I said. They said that this Bill which seeks to regulate public fundraising activities, commonly known harambees is fundamentally flawed in its approach and intent. Rather than address the root cause of the pervasive need for public fundraisers, the Bill focuses on controlling the symptoms of systemic Government failures. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1496953,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496953/?format=api",
"text_counter": 175,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "While they acknowledged the need for regulation in specific areas, such as fundraising activities involving politicians especially, political aspirants and religious institutions, these citizens believed that the Bill in its current form unfairly burdens ordinary citizens who rely on community support to address gaps in essential services by the Government. They advocated for a more focused approach that targets the misuse of public funds and resources by those in position of power. Public fundraising or harambees as we know them, have become a necessity to the failure by Government institutions to provide adequate and accessible health care, for example, in education and social services. The Bill fails to address the root cause of harambees . They said that it does not propose any solution to reduce the reliance on harambees nor does it acknowledge the systemic issues that necessitate these fundraisers in the first place. They said that the Bill imposes additional regulatory burdens on citizens who are already struggling to meet basic needs by requiring permits and detailed financial records, and imposing penalties for non-compliance. The Government is effectively penalizing those who are forced to rely on public goodwill to survive. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is not only unjust but also very counterproductive. When I listened to some of those views, I could not agree more. You are not curing one problem but you are exacerbating another."
},
{
"id": 1496954,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496954/?format=api",
"text_counter": 176,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The Bill suppresses community solidarity. They told us it undermines the very fabric of our society where communities come together to support one another in times of need. Ubuntu that is what African culture is about. That is what Kenyan culture is about."
},
{
"id": 1496955,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496955/?format=api",
"text_counter": 177,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The resources and effort required to enforce this Bill would be better spent on addressing the underlying issues of healthcare, education and social welfare. Go down to the root. Instead of policing citizens who are trying to help one another, the Government should strengthen public institutions and infrastructure to reduce the need for such fundraising. Right?"
},
{
"id": 1496956,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496956/?format=api",
"text_counter": 178,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "We have to get to the root of the problem, not just deal with the branches and the leaves of a problem. Otherwise, we may be doing an injustice to our people who most need this particular type of community support through fundraisers."
},
{
"id": 1496957,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496957/?format=api",
"text_counter": 179,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)"
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"id": 1496958,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496958/?format=api",
"text_counter": 180,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wakili Sigei",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Sen. Crystal, you have five minutes out of your time to conclude your contribution."
},
{
"id": 1496959,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496959/?format=api",
"text_counter": 181,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I was going to my conclusion."
},
{
"id": 1496960,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496960/?format=api",
"text_counter": 182,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wakili Sigei",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you."
},
{
"id": 1496961,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1496961/?format=api",
"text_counter": 183,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I think I have tried to make my point clear, and I hope that the spirit of this particular Bill, which is, like I said earlier, very noble, and understandable, does make practical sense and logical sense. However, we have to marry the logical with the real-life experience of what Kenyans are going through. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}
]
}