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{
    "id": 1037775,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1037775/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 177,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba North, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Let me also join Members in congratulating Hon. Dennitah Ghati. I served and campaigned for her when she was very able-bodied and it was a shock when she moved from being able-bodied to a person living with disability. I went through some of the phases with her - she understands - and it is very challenging. I would say that sometimes God puts you in a place for a reason. All of us have agreed that she has done excellent in supporting issues of PWDs. We also sit with Hon. Dennitah in the Parliamentarians for Global Action. She has also become a de-facto representative of persons with disabilities, a work that she is doing excellently even there. So, I just want to give two examples why, as a House, we must always put issues of persons with disabilities ahead. We grew up with a young girl whom we played with throughout our childhood up to high school. She was called Grace who was both deaf and dumb. After that, I did not see her for a while. One time, on the streets of Nairobi, I met her together with my sister. In excitement, she wanted to introduce her husband who could also not speak or talk. Then by writing she indicated thus: “I am so excited to see you. This is my husband.” She then wrote his name. Then, she asked us about our names. We played together for years and we assumed she knew who we were. That shows us how many times we take for granted the persons with disabilities because we do not understand what they go through. Secondly, at one point, I was asked to speak on advocacy to a group of people with disabilities. When I went to that group, all the items they gave were in Braille. Suddenly, I am the one who became disabled because I could not communicate in Braille. Hon. Speaker, that is why it is important even as a House that whenever we make policy or legislative decisions, we must be conscious that we do not necessarily have to go through what Hon. Dennitah went through in order for us to be sensitive. Otherwise, let me congratulate you and the other Members of the Commonwealth. My sister, Hon. Dennitah Ghati, has done an excellent job and we are here to support her. I thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}