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"id": 1053557,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kikuyu, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
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"legal_name": "Anthony Kimani Ichung'Wah",
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"content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving that Communication. I thank you because I had intended to rise on that related matter. As you have rightly said, there is a very serious spike in Covid-19 related cases in the country. I am sure, as the Chair of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), you are aware that quite a number of us, Members of Parliament, and even staff in this House have, in one way or the other, been affected by this pandemic and even been infected. It is, indeed, a matter of grave concern especially looking at the way we conducted ourselves last week on Thursday, both here and at the Members’ Lobby. I was wondering, Hon. Speaker, as much as you have said that you will be giving communication next week on the observance of the Ministry of Health protocols, you will remember that, last year, when this pandemic came in, we had very stringent measures both within and outside the Chamber. But those measures seem to have been relaxed. You will realize that if you walk at the parking lot, both at the Members’ Lobby and even within the precincts of Parliament, many of those protocols have been relaxed. Last week, His Excellency the President, in furtherance of those health protocols, did institute a ban on all political gatherings. You realize that all these are politicians seated in this House and may constitute a political gathering. I am not saying that we should be teargased in the House, as it happened in Baringo County Assembly but, there is already a precedent. But we must be in the forefront in leading in observance of all the health protocols. Hon. Speaker, I want to ask you and challenge the Parliamentary Service Commission. I say this with due respect to you as the Chair of the PSC, that we seem to have thoroughly relaxed on the observance of those protocols rightly as you said, from the dining hall and in the manner we sit in the Chamber. You remember we had Serjeant-at-Arms in white overcoats sanitizing our desks, the microphones we use and all these other objects here. You may realize that in the last few months, that has since been relaxed. At least, today, I see one Serjeant-at-Arms in a white overcoat, but I have not seen him sanitizing anything. I see them very quick to sanitize the Speaker’s seat if you happen to leave and the Deputy Speaker is coming to sit. I want to insist that we continue to observe The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for informationpurposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}