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{
    "id": 1034870,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1034870/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 348,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kinangop, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Zachary Thuku",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13380,
        "legal_name": "Zachary Kwenya Thuku",
        "slug": "zachary-kwenya-thuku"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute to this Report by the Departmental Committee on Health. It is interesting that we are discussing a pandemic that is with us. Of course, about eight months ago when it was declared a pandemic, the country started its preparedness. Nevertheless, we are still grappling with its reality by losing our frontline workers, losing citizens and many of our citizens getting infected day in, day out. The most interesting thing that I have read from this Report is the fact that KEMSA still holds about 95 per cent of the stocks that were procured albeit irregularly. Maybe the law was not followed. I use the word “maybe” because there is active investigation that is ongoing. I join my colleagues in the outcry that we have as to whether there was propriety in procurement. From what I get from this Report, indeed, supplies were procured. The only question that begs today is about propriety, on whether the law was followed, whether there was corruption and issues like those. The most important thing that I want to address myself to is the recommendations that have been brought about as further recommendations from No. 20 to 39. The Departmental Committee on Health is giving us very good recommendations as far as this Report is concerned. It is giving it impetus as to what needs to be done, even if the investigations are ongoing. We cannot have PPEs lying in KEMSA stores when our doctors are dying. We seem helpless while help is just a drive away. I support the recommendation that PPEs held at KEMSA stores be distributed to our health facilities and schools. This morning, I saw a clip of a worried parent in Kisumu over his child in school after the death of a student who had also infected three other students. They are all dead and there are others who are admitted in hospital. This is a very sad occurrence yet we have PPEs in our stores. We cannot allow ourselves to suffer a double tragedy; loss of money and loss of lives. We must save one and I believe that life is more precious. This Report should be passed and expeditiously implemented as far as PPEs are concerned because this is a scourge that is ongoing and we are yet to see the end. The recommendation of ensuring that our frontline medics get insurance cover is not something that we should be debating today. It should have been done like yesterday. They are our soldiers and they should have access to the best medical care. We cannot afford to lose more doctors. It is very expensive to train a doctor in this country and it is sad that you end up losing a life and monies used in their training."
}