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{
    "id": 1243517,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1243517/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 194,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "Kenyans should know that police officers are our friends and custodians of law and order in the country as per the law. As Members of Parliament and any other State officer who is allocated for bodyguards, they protect and ensure that we sleep soundly and walk around feeling protected. We have close to 78,000 police officers in the country. They control traffic, arrest people, maintain law and order. You were part of us in the last Senate. The former Nominated Senator, Sen. Kasanga, moved the Mental Health Bill. In the debate, we said that mental health issues are a problem, not only to ordinary Kenyans, but also to a number of police officers. We have seen in many cases police officers shoot themselves, the public, their colleagues, as Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale has said. Most of it is because of depression and mental issues. It behooves the Cabinet Secretary of Interior and National Administration and Inspector General of Police (IG) to sit down and agree. Some of the reasons for mental illness is their pay. I am happy that the Government has formed a task force that is chaired by Retired Chief Justice (CJ) David Maraga that is going around the country. We were told some of the reasons why police are frustrated is because of their poor working conditions; earnings and salary. I am happy that the President is committed to reviewing their salary. I hope that it will assist. The reason why most men feel inadequate is because they are unable to provide for their families. The poor working conditions are so pronounced that we have seen poor relationships among the police. The time we visited several police stations, they were in pathetic conditions. Personally, having been a guest of the State on several occasions in the previous regime, I can confirm that it is not the nicest place to be. You hang around with the cockroaches and not-friendly individuals up to morning. I can confirm to you that even putting a coat of paint will go a long way. The toilets are in pathetic condition. You can imagine if you were working as a MP in such a situation. You know the police are"
}