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{
    "id": 1192039,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1192039/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 56,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I agree with our colleague who has just spoken on Sen. Crystal Asige’s Statement. There is need for us to be sensitive to children with special needs. Listening to her, it struck me how on many occasions, because life is normal for us, we imagine that is how it is for everyone. Perhaps, there are special needs children in many institutions across our counties. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on many occasions, we do not sit back to reflect and consider in which way are they being considered in the buildings that are being done and the county programmes. Part of the articles in the Constitution on devolution and that which it intended to achieve is to bring service closer to the people and to give people the chance to self govern away from Nairobi. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee on Education may want to even go a step further and consider this Statement because many of the millions of shillings that we devolve to the county each year are meant to aid in the construction of Early Childhood Education (ECDE) classrooms. How many of those ECDE classrooms are built in a manner conducive to children with special needs? What is the ratio of children with disabilities who are not able to attend normal schools with the other children? How many such facilities are being developed? I know the Senator for Homabay County, Sen. M. Kajwang’, has a Bill before this House that was read the First Time early this week on vocational training centres. Perhaps as we consider that Bill, we must also think about PWDs because it is also providing the legislative framework for counties to develop vocational training centres. As we do so, we may want to also consider during Committee of the Whole how those centres can either additionally have classrooms that are smart enough to have students that are gifted differently or build institutions altogether. The special skills that we are providing to the young people who do not join colleges and universities are critical. I believe this special lot of young children deserve to be also given that kind of an opportunity. I believe when Sen. M. Kajwang’ or the Committee that is considering this Bill comes back with that report, this is one thing together with our colleague Sen. Crystal Asige, they should look into. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
}