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{
    "id": 1192034,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1192034/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 51,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "emergency service providers are, in their training, sensitized on how to handle persons with disabilities in emergency situations. (4) Describe the kind of training, if any, that children living with disabilities in special needs education institutions are taken through to aid them in responding to emergency situations. (5) Explain whether parents and caregivers of children living with disabilities are taken through any form of training on handling of such children in the event of emergencies, stating how often, all the above such trainings are provided. Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me to give a brief genesis of this Statement. Not many people know this, but on the 13th October 2022, in Uganda, there was a special education school named Salama School for the visually impraied that burnt down. I am sorry, but I cannot stop shedding tears as I say this because that school burnt down on the 13th October just after midnight. Eleven children with visual impairment died and six were badly injured on that night. The fire was caused by an alleged arson attack in the middle of the night in that boarding school. As I said, 11 children with visual impairment or blindness were burnt to death in the middle of the night. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for them and the excruciating experience they had to undergo. If Senators in this House and people listening to me this afternoon can just close their eyes for ten seconds and imagine that this place was engulfed in flames right now, what would you do, especially if the person to your left and to your right is also blind and visually impaired? Would you then reach out your hand to save someone and guide him out of this House to a safer place? Mr. Speaker, Sir, the 11 visually impaired children in Uganda were burnt so badly beyond recognition that their parents had to wait three weeks after this fire in order to get their remains. It just happened a week ago. I asked myself what Kenya is doing to prevent such a situation. Instead of being reactive, how proactive are our emergency services in such situations, specific to people and children with disabilities. I hope that none of our institutions of learning such as Thika School for the Blind, Likoni School for the Blind and others will ever have such experience. We do not want to read horror stories in the newspapers in Kenya. I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this being a House of reflection."
}