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{
    "id": 1163647,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1163647/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 160,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "The biggest threat that we are facing as country is substance abuse among the young people, especially from the coastal region and in most towns. Alcohol and drug abuse continue to be a threat to the present and future generations. Most of the young people are becoming zombies and unproductive at their prime age. That threatens the population growth of this country. It is unfortunate that there is non-engagement of key stakeholders who should assist in rehabilitation. We have heard many stories that many Kenyans have been taken for rehabilitation because of drug and alcohol abuse and they have recovered. Those people should be well catered for. That should be guaranteed and guarded and the law must be followed to the letter. One of the salient features of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, is public participation. In any organization, be it private or public, public participation is key. Even in your own house, there should be public participation because it is now part of consensus building. When you have an agency that does not involve other stakeholders, that is disappointing, yet we are celebrating the gains of the Constitution and there should be public participation. In any decision you make that affects the public, there must be public participation. When you watch Americans advertising their drugs, they normally tell you what a drug can do. At the end, they tell you the consequences. So, it important at this time when we are struggling with the issue of drug abuse like heroin and cocaine even in this and other major cities in the country. Some of the drug peddlers have infiltrated even villages. People are dying because of drugs. The economy is also affected because when you have a productive age that does not work, you can imagine what happens. We cannot generate wealth as a country. It is said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. I hope this matter shall be dealt with by a Committee of the Whole because this is a cross-cutting issue that is affecting everybody. It is affecting Senators from all counties. The issues Sen. Kasanga has raised need proper attention. We hope that the Committee that this Statement will be directed to - I do not know whether it will be the Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights or the Committee on Health - this matter should be addressed because it is part of mental health. I want to thank Sen. Kasanga because she has been a champion and has distinguished herself in this House. When the history of this House will be written, one name will feature prominently in issues of mental health. That will be the name of Sen. Kasanga. The President should give her a commendation. We should not be awarding people because of political expediency. We should award people who have stood up and highlighted mental health issues. Sen. Kasanga should also thank me because when I was the Chairperson of the Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, one of the Bills that we moved to court to protect was the Mental Health Bill. I should also receive some acclamation for participating and midwifing the process. I thank you."
}