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{
    "id": 101485,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/101485/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 301,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Odhiambo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 119,
        "legal_name": "Alfred Bwire Odhiambo",
        "slug": "alfred-bwire"
    },
    "content": "I think the other issue that was also raised is about children in maternity homes, students abroad and the need for repatriation. There is also another hon. Member who raised that. I personally had an experience with children in maternity homes. I had on an occasion dealt with a child who I was called to help. An American lawyer wanted to adopt a child. When I started the process, I discovered that, that child was actually in the process of being wrongfully adopted because it is only the mother who had died and used to be my client. But the child had family who had not authorized for that boy to be adopted. When we started following this matter very keenly, the American couple who were running a very posh children’s home in a posh neighbournood actually sent this information to the USA and it was sent back to us. There is, therefore, need for the Government not just to establish rules under the Children Act but to effectively deal with this practice; the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development should be especially involved. A lot of homes that have been set up to deal with children issues do not follow the rules, and this makes our children vulnerable. I want to thank Mr. Wetangula for the amendments that he has suggested, especially on the issue of definition of organized crimes. I think it actually adds value and is appreciated. We need to remove the concept that organized groups should have been existing for a period of time. I think it is something that we will take on. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other suggestion that is given and adds value to the Bill is that we need to expand the definition to include persons who are the actual financiers and who control or are associated with the control of trafficking in persons. He also commented on the size of the advisory committee that I have already commented on; so, I will not go back to it. I have also noted the comments about the civil servants. Again, I think it is an oversight. It is given in law that you can only be charged for a crime when you had a guilty mind, or what is called in law the Mens rea . So, we will include the issue of “knowingly” under Clause 26. He has also mentioned the issue of adoption and I have spoken about it; so, I will not go into it, but, as a country, we must be very careful to ensure that we protect our children from illegal adoptions. I would want to also say that a lot of us have spoken about the issue of penalties. I was of the view that we had actually provided stiff penalties, but I would be very happy if we could enhance the penalties, save that, because I am pro-life, I will not really initiate a death sentence. However, I would encourage that we put everything as a life sentence---"
}