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{
    "id": 1161900,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1161900/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 237,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Mwaura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13129,
        "legal_name": "Isaac Maigua Mwaura",
        "slug": "isaac-mwaura"
    },
    "content": "“The Council shall endevaour to secure the reservation of employment of five per cent of the casual, emergency and contractual employment both in public and private places to persons with disabilities.” Endeavouring to secure reservations of employment is not something that can be prosecuted in court. We have made progress in ensuring that PwD’s have been employed in various places. The last time we did a tally, those within the public sector were less than 1 per cent. That tells you that there is a lot of work to be done to ensure that PwDs are properly represented in the work place. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in politics, we had made a lot of gains in 2013. We had about 84 MCAs, 13 legislators both in the National Assembly and the Senate. However, in 2017 general elections, we lost a great deal because many counties did not have representations. There is only one representative in 20 counties. It is important for this Bill to be passed so that it clearly defines PwDs need to be represented politically. At least, we should have two MCAs, a man and a woman in all the 47 counties. That would then make it 94. We should have at least four in the National Assembly and two in the Senate as guaranteed. That way, we will have a political class of about 100 PwDs, including a Cabinet Secretary (CS) and a Principal Secretary (PS) so that PwDs can feel they are properly represented. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, further, if you look at the enrollment of children with disabilities in schools, there is still a lot of challenge because of stigma and discrimination. Many parents are still hiding their children. The cost of special needs education is extremely prohibitive to the extent that they are not able to take their children to school. This Bill, therefore, creates incentives for caregivers, parents and mothers in this regard of children with disabilities, especially those with severe disabilities like autism, down-syndrome and such other developmental and intellectual disabilities. They will benefit from tax exemption just as it is the case with those with disabilities, up to, Kshs150,000. They will be able to get, at least, Kshs45,000 off their pay slip which is supposed to ensure that they cover up for the extra disability cost for the benefit of the family and household."
}