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{
"id": 1544842,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "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": 1544843,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1544843/?format=api",
"text_counter": 476,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba",
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"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I would like to comment on Sen. Hamida Kibwana's Statement about the shutdown of the Kenya Health Information System owing to the departure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from the country. It is unfortunate that we are living in difficult times. This is an example to show that as much as we are accepting aid, and saying that it is okay to have donors and all these international organizations supporting us in one way or another, as you are aware, this is a very vital system. The Kenya Health Information System is a system that was holding medical or health data of Kenyans. It is that same system that is used to even have a foresight or focus on outbreaks and all sorts of sensitive things. Owing to the departure of USAID, you can see now the system has been shut down. The questions that Sen. Hamida Kibwana is asking should actually open our eyes in terms of who are we trusting, our systems or some of our development projects with, even if it is international organizations. One of the questions that is being asked, and that is why I want to highlight this so that Kenyans can understand, is that she is seeking to find out whether the Ministry of Health had an exit strategy or a handover process to ensure the continuity of the health data management. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have always spoken about resilience plans in terms of our programmes, systems, Information Technology (IT) or otherwise. Right now, we are in a situation where we do not even know if our health data has been accessed by third parties. We are in a situation where we do not have a resiliencee plan. That can only mean that, God forbid, if we have an outbreak today, we might not even be able to do what is necessary to curb that outbreak and put in measures to ensure that Kenyans are safe. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as we are seeking to find out what is happening with that system now that USAID has left, it is also imperative that our Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy ensures that we are in control of some of these sensitive dockets, programmes or projects, as much as we accept the funding. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to also add my voice on Sen. Richard Onyonka's Statement in terms of the policy on the decision to remove Mathematics as a compulsory subject. We all say and joke that we never use algebra in life. We are always saying that some of the mathematics that we learned all the way to high school has never been applicable to our day-to-day life. However, we have to appreciate that as we are moving to CBC, mathematics is an essential part of our lives. For us to even start this session here, we always have to count if we have quorum. As much as we are saying that at one point we do not need mathematics, this decision has been hasty and a lot has not been put into real thought in terms of what we are removing. Furthermore, it has never hurt anyone to study mathematics all the way, even to college. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I did not like mathematics, I have never liked it, but once in a while, I start to appreciate why I was in some of those very complicated classes. This is because, sometimes you never get to appreciate the applications of the basis and"
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"id": 1544844,
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"text_counter": 477,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "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."
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{
"id": 1544845,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1544845/?format=api",
"text_counter": 478,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba",
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"speaker": null,
"content": "the themes that we learn in mathematics, until you are out there in the industry, whether in communications, engineering, architecture or whatever. You are then forced in a situation where you have to apply some level of thinking that we acquired during those mathematics classes. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I believe that was a hasty decision. I hope that as we are seeking inquiries on what led to this policy and how we can further make our curriculum efficient, I would like to say that we must appreciate that we do not apply algebra everywhere, but some of the things that we are taught in mathematics are actually applicable in life. It is also a basis of our day-to-day lives in the different forums that we are in. I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."
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"id": 1544846,
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"text_counter": 479,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi): Senator Beatrice Ogola."
},
{
"id": 1544847,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1544847/?format=api",
"text_counter": 480,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Ogola",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I will start by supporting the first two Statements under Standing Order No.52(1). As we remember J.M. Kariuki on the 50th anniversary of his death, I want it to go on record that I also want to remember, in a special way, one outstanding man we have had in this country, the late Tom Mboya who came from Homa Bay County. Just like J.M. Kariuki had outstanding deeds in this country, the late Tom Mboya equally had very remarkable things that we can remember. He was a Cabinet Minister for Economic Planning and Development in this country. In my County of Homa Bay, we attribute a lot of great things to Tom Mboya. Part of them are the Homa Bay Referral Hospital, the Homa Bay High School and the stadium that we have today. All these are attributed to the planning that Tom Mboya did while he was the Minister for Economic Planning and Development Ministry. Along with J.M. Kariuki and Tom Mboya, I want to remember also the doyen of devolution, the late Odhiambo Mbai who equally comes from a sub-county that I have a history with, Homa Bay Town Sub-county. The late Odhiambo Mbai’s successes were not limited to the devolution that we now enjoy. This Senate came with a new Constitution and all that is attributed to one scholar called the late Odhiambo Mbai. Along with the personalities we remember in this country, there is the late Minister Robert Ouko. These are the people who did a lot in this country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as we remember J.M. Kariuki, and the few we have mentioned, there are many others in this Republic, like Tom Mboya, Odhiambo Mbai and Robert Ouko. It is important to note that there is something in a name that all of us must guard. That is why we must all protect our names and build on to these names. Very few people can remember who physically Tom Mboya was. A few of us here can remember physically who J.M. Kariuki was and who Odhiambo Mbai was. They do not even know how physically they looked, but we remember those names. That is why we say we must protect our names. That is why we say we can never ever allow people who discredit other people’s names, because names are built over years. People take years to build their names, some of it professionally and for some, even their families rely on these names. That is why we call upon everybody to respect each other,"
},
{
"id": 1544848,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1544848/?format=api",
"text_counter": 481,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Ogola",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "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."
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{
"id": 1544849,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1544849/?format=api",
"text_counter": 482,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Ogola",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "to honor each other and to never ever discredit names that people have built over centuries. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I come to the second Statement and which I support, by the nominated Sen. Mariam Omar. The Senator talks about abductions, but on the same note, I want to remind this House of a lie that I heard here some few weeks ago. One of us came here to say that Raila Amollo Odinga did not mention the issue of abductions until we held prayers, a few days to his going for elections in Addis Ababa. I would like to put this record straight. That statement was made by the Senator for Kiambu, Senator Thang’wa. He said that at no time, did Raila talk about abductions. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want it to be recorded here, that right in December, 2024, when Governor Gladys Wanga was hosting the finals of the Genowa Cup in the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County, Raila Amolo Odinga came out publicly to talk against abductions and in the presence of the President of this country. Therefore, it is a lie to say that Raila Amolo Odinga did not talk about abductions. As I correct that, I also want to say that we should never encourage issues like abductions. In this country, we should encourage diverse thinking and when people speak out their mind and that is in the Constitution, 2010, they must be heard and abductions should be treated as a criminal offense. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also support the statement by the Senator for Kisii, Sen. Richard Onyonka, on his statement about the policy decision that was made by the Government to remove mathematics as a compulsory subject. I support the sentiments that have been brought up here over the same by my sister, Sen. Gloria, that mathematics and languages have skills that we refer to as life skills. We all know that we all need mathematical skills, whether you are a hustler or a boda rider, we need to sharpen these skills in school. Therefore, I will not be one person who will support this policy decision. Mathematics and languages form the foundation of the skills upon which people build the professions that they have. I have been a teacher of languages, and I know the basic skills that language builds are listening, speaking and writing, and these are core. Somebody might underrate them, but throughout all our lives and even today, if you are a Member of Parliament, you need those skills. That is why they are referred to as basic skills. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to say that for mathematics, there must be a re-thinking of the fact that we can remove mathematics as a compulsory subject. For such a decision, there should be public consultation even before that is implemented. I will go to the Statement by the Senator for Nairobi County. This is a Statement regarding the delayed remittance of school capitation by the National Treasury. A few weeks ago, Sen. Catherine Mumma made a Statement stating that the Union of Secondary School Principals was proposing an increase to school fees. However, you know the economic status of our people. In that Statement, two factors were considered; the late disbursement of funds from the National Treasury and a review of school capitation. Success is not instant coffee. There must be an investment in the success that we require in our schools."
},
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"id": 1544850,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1544850/?format=api",
"text_counter": 483,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Ogola",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "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": 1544851,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1544851/?format=api",
"text_counter": 484,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Ogola",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Many head teachers and teachers in general take their time in educating our children. As I remember, the Government must contribute a big percentage even as parents also subsidize school payments. We have often seen monies allocated to our school in the budgets of the Ministry of Education. All we are saying is that these monies must be disbursed in time if we want success and our students to learn in time. The schools can only be efficient and effective if some of these funds are disbursed to them in time. We all know that schools have a calendar. They have a calendar that must be followed, even their term dates. All the activities that happen in school happen because of certain resources that are given to the schools. Schools use part of this money to pay certain teachers where there are shortages. Some of this funding is also used to build some of the infrastructure in schools. The laboratories where the children learn must be funded. We cannot expect success if the Government does not invest in these schools. Lastly, I want to support the statement by the Senator of Machakos regarding the acute shortage of blood in the country. Look at the number of accidents reported on our roads every other day. These are unplanned occurrences. The Government must plan well in advance. We should have blood bank centres across the regions in this country. There must be not only adequate blood, but blood that hospitals and members of the public can reach at any time and speed. The need for blood is not only limited to the accident victims that we have. We also have sick people who need blood to be sustained. We have often heard of people who lost their lives because blood was not available. This must be discussed by the Committee when you finally give your direction, and we should never see a situation where there is a lack of blood in this country. Lastly, I support the Statement by the Senator of Kisumu. This one regards the adequacy of administrative units in Kisumu County and their capacity to serve the growing population effectively. We have often said that we must bring services closer to our people. These administrative units provide structures that bring these services closer to the people. We have talked about decentralization and devolution of services. This must not be limited to Kisumu County. In the sub-county where I come from, Ndhiwa, our people are crying for more administrative units. Through the effort of leadership and some delegations that met with His Excellency, the President of this country, we divided the Ndhiwa sub-county into two sub-counties. However, if you look at the length and population of that sub-county, we need that sub-county to get further subdivisions, and we propose to have three sub- counties out of the single sub-county that we have in Ndhiwa today. This is an effort to get services closer to the people. This is why all of us applaud devolution: We wanted services to come from Nairobi and to be devolved up to the county headquarters. Those services must not be limited to the county headquarters. They must go down past the sub-county headquarters, up to the wards, and even up to the villages. I support this Statement in the spirit of efficiency, availability and equity of services to our people. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity."
}
]
}