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{
    "id": 1139247,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1139247/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 149,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Nyamunga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 738,
        "legal_name": "Rose Nyamunga Ogendo",
        "slug": "rose-nyamunga-ogendo"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this amendment Bill by Sen. Shiyonga. I support this Bill because it is timely and important that this amendment is made. I believe it will pass in this House. I support because we know that health is a devolved function. Once you devolve a function, it is also important that you give it the authority that it requires for it to function properly. Health is very critical for the development of any nation. If people are sick, there is nothing that can happen. Even economic development cannot take place. We cannot take one Authority, that is the KEMSA, to be in charge of drugs and all medical supplies because we know very well that KEMSA has a history. First, we know what happened in the leasing of equipment. A lot of equipment was taken to different counties, which they had not asked for. Some could not be housed and if they could, there was even no three- phase power to operate the machinery that was imported and given to counties without them asking for. Some of the counties did not have the staff to manage the equipment. That has been a big problem. We have been talking about it for a long time, but we have never got any answers to that type of unilateral happening by just one authority. It is important to allow county governments to be in charge of every equipment or medical supplies that they need for the running of the counties. The KEMSA also has a history in the way they handled the COVID-19 drugs and equipment. We all know that the country lost over Kshs6 billion. A lot of equipment was procured and is still lying at the KEMSA headquarters even right now. The amount of Kshs6 billion is a lot of money. If counties were allowed to import the equipment or the drugs directly, I do not think we would be suffering or the equipment and supplies would be lying in the store houses at this hour. I, therefore, would like to support that county governments should be given the leeway. They should also be prepared. If health is devolved, let us devolve everything. As to whether they will do it in a proper manner, that is another thing, but let it be devolved, so that the functions are managed by the county governments because they have doctors and procurement departments that can deal with medical supplies. However, they should only buy what they need. Right now there is a lot of shortage in our dispensaries and hospitals in the county governments all over this country. We all know that Kenyans are suffering because of lack of equipment and drugs. The medical supplies take a lot of time. Sometimes there is also delay in releasing some of the items to the county governments. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support this amendment because it is timely and critical. We need to support our people and make sure that they are taken care of. When you go to the"
}