Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1003708,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1003708/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 131,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "different standards of ICU facilities and different types of beds in different counties. That is why we want to get a performance audit done by the Auditor General. We have already written to them. We are also engaging an independent auditor as per the mandate and authority given to us by our Standing Orders. We also want them to look at that performance. We are also going to investigate the matter of the Jack Ma Foundation donations because it is an issue that is in the public domain. I am glad that Sen. Cheruiyot has raised it. We need to know how those donations were received, where they went to and how they were used. The Cabinet Secretary is attending a meeting before us next week. Contrary to what the former Senate Majority Leader said, we initially wanted to work with the National Assembly but they failed to set up their Committee but we have done our work. We have met more than ten Cabinet Secretaries and they know that they must account to us. Two cabinet secretaries had refused to appear before us and we issued summons against them. We made sure that they know that they must account to us. We issued summons to the two Cabinet Secretaries (CS) who refused to appear before us. They attended the meetings, and they have been complying. We have met more than 160 organizations and stakeholders. As of today, we have held 71 meetings. The Senator has asked the question of a legal framework on how to manage the pandemic. The Pandemic Response and Management Bill is before this House. I am very disappointed that for the last three weeks, our whips have not been able to help us marshal the numbers to vote on this Bill. The Bill is there, waiting for a Division. Let us vote on it and pass it to the National Assembly. We have been talking to them and listened to the issues they had earlier. We have made many amendments and done our part. We have looked at over 50 countries across the world and compared with best practice. We have looked at all these jurisdictions. So, I think that it is only right for us, as Senators, to put the question to the Bill in being responsible Members. Let the Bill go to the National Assembly, so that we can say that at least we have set up a framework for dealing with the pandemic that is uniform from the national Government to the county governments. Madam Deputy Speaker, today, a bit more than 100 days after the first case was reported, we have 4,952 cases of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in this country. This pandemic is actually growing, but I think that our focus has shifted from it. Even if we sit as a House once a week, we are not giving due attention to the reports by this Committee or even to the legislation that we have proposed to deal with the pandemic. I have heard the Deputy Senate Majority Leader alluding to us going on a recess. It will be extremely disheartening if we go on recess before we dispense with the Pandemic Response and Management Bill. Hundreds of Kenyans came and gave us their views. This include stakeholders, doctors and nurses across the country. We heard them on the economic side of things and law firms. We have more than 170 submissions. Please, I urge my colleagues, let us dispense with this Bill and continue oversighting. I want to put to notice the people you are mentioning. I do not know whether there are ghosts called cartels that Sen. Cheruiyot is referring to at the national and county governments. We will not take lightly any misuse of funds. We will name The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}