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"id": 1117741,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Langat",
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"speaker": {
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"legal_name": "Christopher Andrew Langat",
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"content": "for the many sensitive petitions that are coming to this House lately. That shows that people still trust this House to handle their issues. The petitioners have mentioned very important issues affecting them and people all over the country. The issues of PWDs have not been mainstreamed effectively in every sector especially on matters of employment. Most persons living with disabilities are sidelined in employment. The PWDs are not given slots that are stipulated in the Constitution. Most county budgets especially on matters of social welfare, persons with disabilities are given very little money. To make matters worse, rarely does that portion of very little money reach the needs of PWDs. This is a matter that we must take seriously. The Senate should ensure that the Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations gets record from all our counties showing the slots given to the PWDs as well as stipends given to them by various county governments. Whenever we go to county visits, we receive several complaints from PWDs who complain that they have not been assisted effectively. Some of the PWDs have children in schools but they are not supported to get school fees. The National Government also has a fair share of blame. The relevant ministry has not been giving them the stipends that they are supposed to receive on a monthly basis. Apart from county governments not responding to the needs of PWDs, we must also blame the relevant Ministry of the national Government. One time, I went around the county with the Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration. Funny enough, I learnt that there are some county governments whose buildings are not responsive to the needs of PWDs. In some counties, there were no ramps, support or people situated in strategic places to assist PWDs in one way or the other. Madam Temporary Speaker, the PWDs have a lot of challenges. Some PWDs from my county have come to me to complain about various issues that have been highlighted in this petition. This matter must therefore be taken seriously. We should compile data on how the national Government is assisting the PWDs such as giving them the monthly stipend. Most times, PWDs do not receive their stipends due to corruption. A proper audit should be conducted by the Office of the Auditor-General. This House must demand to see that audit to ascertain the number of PWDs who are receiving the monthly stipend from the national Government. I would like to support this Petition and thank the petitioners for bringing it on behalf of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) so that we assist them."
}