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{
    "id": 1461187,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1461187/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 345,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana MGH",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On the onset, I congratulate the Senate Standing Committee on Health for the good work they have done. I have a special respect for Members of the legal and health profession and other professions who from the very early stage, make a decision that they will stick with public service. They grow in public service all the way to high positions. Some of us had those kinds of opportunities when younger, but made the decision to go into private practice. I look at a lot of successful medical doctors who went to private practice and made a lot of money. I also juxtapose that against Dr. Patrick Amoth who started as a medical intern, became a superintendent in charge of Kiambu District Hospital. He rose all the way to the national level to head the Public Health Directorate, where he was in charge of the public health strategy that was supposed to provide good health services to all the 47 counties in Kenya. We are talking about a dedicated public servant whom we should support and should have supported much earlier. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, how can we keep a public servant so dedicated from the days of his youth to this time at an acting position for four years, since 2019 up to today? We have wronged this dedicated public servant. I pray that that should not be repeated. When he succeeded Dr. John Masasabi, the last substantive Director General, he stayed in that position for four years. He kept on doing what he should be doing now, substantively. I want to speak to this issue of acting position. The Government needs to up its game, both at the national and county level. When someone is in an acting capacity, they do not fully exercise their authority. They are susceptible to cartels and manipulation by people who tell them to do the wrong things because they are acting. They are not quite sure whether they will be confirmed or not. I cascade these realities to Senators. We know that many governors are very good at putting people in an acting capacity, particularly chief officers, so that they are able to tell them to do this and that. Those people do not have security in their jobs. They are hoping that they will be the ones to be confirmed. We must bring a law that will stop any governor or officer in the public sector, both at the national and county government level, The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services, Senate."
}