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{
    "id": 1062779,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1062779/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 429,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suna East, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Junet Nuh",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2840,
        "legal_name": "Junet Sheikh Nuh",
        "slug": "junet-sheikh-nuh"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. We should shorten our contributions so that other Members can get an opportunity to say something. It is a fact that things are very bad in the country at the moment. It is also a fact that the positivity rate at 26 per cent is very high. It is one of the highest globally. Secondly, I thank you for protecting the independence of Parliament. Parliament must decide its own Calendar. Having said that, I have listened to Hon. Otiende and he said that Parliament needs to continue sitting because the other arms of Government have not closed. The difference between other arms of Government and Parliament is that the other arms of Government operate in every part of the country. They can sit in Migori or Kakamega, but Parliament only sits in one place. We occupy one kilometre square in town. Whether you are a Member of Parliament or staff, we must all come to that one kilometre square. The interaction is higher than in any other arm of Government because we all have to come here. The Chamber is only found in one place. We do not have a second chamber where we can spread out. We do not have the option of some of us sitting in Kisumu or Kikuyu and contributing from there. We can only be in this Chamber. For that reason, we have to take extra measures to make sure that we are safe and our safety is not compromised. Members of Parliament are considered to be some of the best insured people in this country. When you get COVID-19, you are hospitalised, put on oxygen and taken to the ICU and that is when you will know that being insured means nothing in this world. The way you will be gasping for oxygen is the same way that a poor guy who also has COVID-19 will be gasping for it. You will all be looking for oxygen. By-elections were hurriedly conducted after our colleagues left us and were buried. They were replaced by others who are currently in the Chamber. Nobody will remember you. You will go for good. It is now upon us to take this opportune time to protect ourselves. When you go round hospitals in the country today, especially in the City of Nairobi, many of them are full to capacity. I saw a situation where somebody was critically ill with COVID-19 and there was no bed. One hospital called another to find out if they had space. That is a very dangerous situation. Assume that a Member of Parliament is sick, has been carried by an ambulance from his or her house to be taken to the Aga Khan Hospital and then they are told that the hospital does not have space. The Aga Khan Hospital has to call another hospital to ask whether there is space and at that time, you are in critical condition lying in an ambulance. I do not want to mention leaders who have defied science and said that COVID-19 is nothing, it does not exist in their country and that the citizens should not put on barakoa or masks. You know how they all ended up. I do not want to mention names because I may be accused of imputing improper motives on other leaders. Some of them lost elections because of COVID-19. In the United States of America, Trump lost the election because of the way he managed COVID- 19. I agree that we must sit as a House to deliberate on issues affecting Kenyans. We cannot do that at the expense of our lives. I will not risk my life. When I was elected, death was not part of the agreement I made with the people who elected me."
}