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{
    "id": 1451252,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1451252/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 99,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to add my voice on The Fire and Rescue Services Professionals Bill (Senate Bills No.55 of 2023). First, I start by congratulating Sen. Abass for the industry and the work that went into putting this Bill together. This Bill is relevant, and it gives us an opportunity to discuss the status of fire and rescue, not only for the professionals, but also for the fire and rescue departments within our counties. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to talk about Tana River County. We are not doing well when it comes to the fire and rescue disaster department. In fact, all the vehicles that were procured for dealing with fire disasters are all stationed at the County Headquarters in Hola. Tana River County is one of the largest counties in this country with over 35,000 square kilometers. If you station all the fire rescue trucks in the county headquarters, which is in Galole Constituency, it is virtually impossible for those vehicles to respond to emergencies in Bura or Garsen constituencies. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there is also lack of a proper fire policy. What should people do when this disaster comes knocking? We never pray nor do we plan for these disasters and when they come knocking, they have devastating effects. I have attended to many situations where you go to console victims of fire that occurred because the fire services did not reach on time. The people have been left to their own devices. Neighbors are the ones who now carry the responsibility of trying to save their neighbors. This kind of situation should not be allowed. Under the Fourth Schedule, Section 14 of the Constitution, fire and rescue services are devolved to the counties. Any governor who is elected into office knows that this is one of the things that they must do. However, many are not budgeting or looking after this critical department. It only becomes relevant when you hear that people died or have been injured, then we have to go there and give pole. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is time that we focus more on what we can do to help our citizens, our counties and those who voted us into office. A lot goes wrong in this profession because it is not regulated nor is it given the respect it deserves. Many people The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}