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{
"id": 1353044,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1353044/?format=api",
"text_counter": 260,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
"slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
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"content": "because you will spend a lot of resources. In families where people are sick, they spend a lot on medication and end up becoming poor in some cases. Consequently, that is why through the wisdom of President William Ruto we passed a Bill here. In the Bill, we created Critical Disease Bill or Fund, so that people who suffer from terminal illness like cancer and other diseases can be catered for. Madam Temporary Speaker, I can confirm to you that all of us from today to Monday, may either receive invitations of harambees. About 80 per cent will be about medical bills. It is eating into the budget of many families. Apart from food, another dangerous item in the budget is food and medication. I say so because what we consume is who we are. Therefore, when we get a Bill that wants to establish the Board of food safety authority, establish a controller and give clear guidance, as the Senate, we should be the champions. I am happy with the definition of ‘food’ that – “A processed, semi processed or raw substance which is consumed by human beings and it includes drinking water and substance which has been used in production, manufacture, preparation for treatment of food but does not include a cosmetic, tobacco or substance used as drugs.” Therefore, funny things that people smoke are not defined in this Bill as food. I am saying this because of two things. First, this December, there will be so many ceremonies. Even as we talk, they are so many. Every weekend there are ceremonies of people getting married or being initiated. Madam Temporary Speaker, we were with you in Murang’a County the other day at a traditional wedding ceremony. Congratulations to our colleagues, Mhe. Erick wa Mumbi, the MP for Mathira Constituency. He married his lovely wife, Hon. Betty Maina Esau, your Woman Representative in Murang’a County. Thank you for hosting us at Kangari. Ladies, you were looking lovely and the food was very good. Sen. Nyamu was on the dance floor and we learnt Mugithi dance. Madam Temporary Speaker, essentially, there will be so many foods around this Christmas season up to early January. However, that food could be the source of your serious illness. We must ensure that the food we consume is well protected. Farmers are now harvesting. We saw Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Linturi Mithika, in the North Rift region of Ziwa, Eldoret and Mosoriot donating maize dryers. This is because there are heavy rains that look like EL Nino, which might affect the storage and drying of maize. We want to thank the Government for providing maize dryers so that our food does not get aflatoxins, which can be poisonous. Kenyans might consume it and get cancer related diseases. Food safety is a critical component. In Nyandarua County, we also need cool storage plants so that when they harvest potatoes, they can store it there. Kitui County and other areas that produce mung beans, lentils and coffee also need proper storage. I am happy that the main issue is post-harvest and we need to manage it. It is sad that after these rains, Kenyans will die of hunger. We have a lot of rains now and we should be collecting the water in water pans and dams."
}