HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1021577,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1021577/?format=api",
"text_counter": 153,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Rarieda, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Otiende Amollo",
"speaker": {
"id": 13465,
"legal_name": "Paul Otiende Amollo",
"slug": "paul-otiende-amollo"
},
"content": "I also agree that there are a lot of pending Members’ Bills and Motions that we need to consider. So, reserving that for Thursday morning is actually quite apt. Speaking about the COVID-19 trends, it does appear to me that while ordinarily we should aspire for the curve to be flattening, ours appears to be falling. I think our falling curve in ordinary parlance is supposed to be a good thing. While many might question whether that is legitimate or not, I think the ultimate test of whether it is legitimate or not is a rise in COVID-19 deaths. We are not seeing a sharp rise in COVID-19 deaths, which to me suggests that we are on the right trajectory. We must have taken measures that have enabled us to kind of contain it. While we should continue to take those measures, we should also be worried that we were taking those measures so that we can continue with life. Therefore, we must balance it out. Secondly, if that is not so, then we may have started to go where we are usually told about - something called ‘herd immunity’. The situation of COVID-19 in Africa, Kenya included, baffles even scientists. So, as the scientists struggle to get the answers, for us, let us take the safety of continuity with those measures, but continuity with life. So, I seriously support this. I sympathise with the sentiments expressed by the Member for Kikuyu in terms of the address by His Excellency the President. There are only two things to note, that while he was imploring you, Hon. Speaker, to cause that address, I note the words in the Standing Orders. Standing Order No.22(3) says “whenever the Speaker has been informed”. So, it is you to be informed. It does not say who. So, I believe that as long as you wait to be informed through the appropriate mechanisms, it is okay. It will not be a default by the Speaker. More importantly, the question of default under Article 132 and Standing Orders 21 to 24 only comes in if at the end of the year that address has not happened. This is because you have the entire year. To close, I support the idea of now starting to reconsider even our sitting arrangement, in view of the current trend in the COVID-19 figures. Indeed, in Parliament, we were extra cautious. In fact, instead of 1.5 metres, my estimation is we are, at least, two metres apart throughout. It might even be more than two metres. Maybe, we now need to consider reducing the distance because as it is, a Member is taking space that is ordinarily for almost 10 Members. We need to reconsider this sitting arrangement. As we do so, let us also ask ourselves, and I have always wondered, why we did not consider the Speaker’s Gallery and the Public Gallery to be part of this arrangement. Actually, I have sat out there. When you sit in the cold out there and it is raining, 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."
}