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{
"id": 1522402,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522402/?format=api",
"text_counter": 178,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I rise to support the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, whose objective is to provide for mental wellness and the mental well-being of police officers. It is being acknowledged that police officers face mental health challenges. That fact has been borne out by what we often experience. We read in newspapers about police officers committing suicide or homicides, where some of them kill their seniors. Those stories are publicised every day. Those that we read about in the papers are probably just a tip of the iceberg. If some police officers go to the extent of killing other officers and themselves, what about those who are suffering silently? What is happening to their families? If a person has a mental illness, even his family suffers. That matter needs to be addressed. Therefore, the Bill is timely. It is not only the officers or their families who suffer, but also the public that they interact with. The handling of people who come into contact with the police is important. Although what happens is not documented, we know of the brutality that police officers sometimes mete out. We may start to think that that is probably how police officers are. However, that may just be an expression of undiagnosed mental illness because their actions appear pathological. We blame them, but we do not realise that they may be in need of help. It is possible that a number of officers work while unwell and in need of mental health care. We should ask ourselves why we suspect that some police officers are unwell. We just imagine that it is some condition, but it has not been documented. The magnitude of the problem has not been brought out. If implemented as proposed, this Bill may address these issues. There are some things that may be obvious to us, but are very important. For example, do we do character suitability check before we recruit police officers into training? What is the curriculum of their training to protect them from the nature of the work they do? Police officers work for long hours in difficult conditions and are faced with horrendous circumstances. What they go through is often a matter of life and death. People cannot remain mentally stable if every time they are out in operations their lives are in danger. They are often faced with high tension and physical trauma. We know instances where whole troops of police officers have been eliminated. What happens to those who survive? Do they remain well? They also witness mutilated bodies when we call them to crime scenes. Do they remain well after such incidents? Do they get counselling? Do we do psychoanalysis on the effects of these incidents? We must look into the psychological trauma that they suffer from. The result is that many officers are working under severe depression that expresses itself in cases like homicide and suicide. Anybody who is exposed to extreme horrendous conditions can suffer Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and they need care. Is the care currently available to our officers? I The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1522403,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522403/?format=api",
"text_counter": 179,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
"speaker": null,
"content": "would not be surprised if amongst police officers, you have a higher incidence of physical illnesses like high blood pressure. They can also develop personality disorders like emotional numbness and psychopathic tendencies. We blame them without realising that they need care. Additionally, salaries and housing of police officers have always been an issue. I am quite sure that there are no systems in place to look after them in this regard. The establishment of psychosocial units and formulation of programmes to promote mental health and well-being of police officers, as proposed in Clause 3 of the Bill, is something we must support. This will help to provide police officers with mental health and wellness resources. Mental illness is one of the most difficult and expensive health conditions to address. It also tends to be chronic once it sets in. Do our police officers have appropriate health facilities that look after mental illness? I am aware of a hospital that has been put up. However, all we can see is a new building that has not been operationalised. There is need for every county to establish well-equipped centres in the offices, camps and training colleges to deal with this matter, as stated in the Bill. In conclusion, I urge Members to support and pass this Bill. It will not only become law but will also provide the funds to take care of police officers, including their working conditions, pay, psychosocial support and medical care. This Bill will provide the basis for that funding. With that, Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support."
},
{
"id": 1522404,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522404/?format=api",
"text_counter": 180,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Omboko Milemba",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 13328,
"legal_name": "Jeremiah Omboko Milemba",
"slug": "jeremiah-omboko-milemba"
},
"content": " Hon. Paul Mwirigi, followed by Hon. Farah Maalim."
},
{
"id": 1522405,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522405/?format=api",
"text_counter": 181,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Igembe South, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. John Paul Mwirigi",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you so much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to speak on this Bill. This is a well-thought-out Bill that seeks to establish psychosocial support centres so that we can maintain the mental wellness of our police officers. This Bill seeks to curb wastage of Government resources, especially litigation costs for damages caused by officers when they are not in their right mind. If these centres are established in every county, police officers will get a good place where they can go, refresh their minds and go back to their workstations when fresh. When the officers are not in the right mind, they may do something irrational, and people may accuse them of using excessive force whereas they are suffering from stress. If these centres are established, they will help the officers to reduce stress and motivate them to do their work even better. These centres will also reduce cases of suicide, which we have encountered from many police officers. Some officers take their lives and even massacre the people they are supposed to protect, because of the stress they go through. Therefore, through these centres where the Government will provide counsellors, police officers will work without causing unnecessary chaos. Additionally, counselling will improve the morale of the police officers to work for this republic. If you are demotivated, it is very difficult to work. However, if officers are motivated through counselling, they will be even more productive in their work. This is one of the best Bills that will help this country to save resources. The proposed amount of money to build the centres is only Ksh950 million, which is just a drop in the ocean. The Government spends a lot of money defending the stressed officers who have cases in court. If we have these centres, they will help us to save some resources. This will also put Kenya in the realm of Africa whereby we will have the best practice within Africa. Internationally, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom have centres where their officers are counselled and oriented with what is happening. They are refreshed after encountering crimes or terrorists. They are also counseled on family matters and then they go back to their work stations. Kenya will be one of the best countries in the African region."
},
{
"id": 1522406,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522406/?format=api",
"text_counter": 182,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Igembe South, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. John Paul Mwirigi",
"speaker": null,
"content": "With those few remarks, I beg to support the Bill."
},
{
"id": 1522407,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522407/?format=api",
"text_counter": 183,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Omboko Milemba",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 13328,
"legal_name": "Jeremiah Omboko Milemba",
"slug": "jeremiah-omboko-milemba"
},
"content": " Hon. Farah Maalim. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1522408,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522408/?format=api",
"text_counter": 184,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dadaab, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Farah Maalim",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to weigh in on this issue. As a son of a policeman, I grew up in police lines. My father was recruited into the colonial police force in 1956. Often, I visit the house where we grew up with my late sister and my two brothers, and it is the same room in Garissa Administration Police Lines, which was occupied by one family. The room was the kitchen, bedroom, our sitting room, my study room and everything. My dad would spend most of the nights outside there, where there was a mat. This time when I went to visit the same place, I found two officers living in the same room. It has not changed 62 years after Independence."
},
{
"id": 1522409,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522409/?format=api",
"text_counter": 185,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Hon. Rebecca Tonkei left the chamber without bowing)"
},
{
"id": 1522410,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522410/?format=api",
"text_counter": 186,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Omboko Milemba",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 13328,
"legal_name": "Jeremiah Omboko Milemba",
"slug": "jeremiah-omboko-milemba"
},
"content": " Hon. Member for Narok, we have to respect the House. Come back and do the correct thing; you cannot afford to prejudice the House that much."
},
{
"id": 1522411,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522411/?format=api",
"text_counter": 187,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Hon. Rebecca Tonkei bowed at the Bar)"
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