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{
    "id": 1473325,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1473325/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 416,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13599,
        "legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
        "slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, the next thing that I consider positive in this proposed Bill is found in Clause 48 which introduces a fine for people who make false claims. There are people who claim to be victims yet they are not. We have seen this spectre even here in Nairobi. The heads of Nyumba Kumi, chiefs and the local administration have tried their best but there is this spectre here in Nairobi. The problems of the people are so entrenched and bigger than what is actually put out there. There could be someone living in another constituency, separate from where it happened such as the Mradi Fire. If you call a meeting at the chief’s office asking everybody affected by the fire to go for assistance, you will find people who are not even living in Mradi also showing up. Sometimes we should not blame them because they know that at least when they go to those centres, there will be something to take home such as food. At the end of the day, we want people to know that it is going to be a criminal offence for you to make false claims. If you have not been affected, please, allow those who have been affected to be helped without you going to reduce the share of help that is supposed to get to the victims. There is a proposal to have Kshs1 million fine for false claims or a one-year jail term, or both, for people who make false claims. We must address the broader question of the state of our people because, as I have said, it is not always the intention of people to make false claims. They find themselves having to do it in order to survive. Another one, and this is the last positive that I have seen, is that under Clause 50, the Bill proposes a Kshs10 million fine or a 10-year jail term for people who misappropriate relief food and equipment. That is another problem. There are people in possession of relief food and those who are given equipment to help. However, you will find them selling relief food on the market. You will find people selling mosquito nets, mattresses and other items meant for victims. I want to thank the Senator for Migori because in our Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party meetings, he is our disaster manager and he has done a fantastic job because there have been no complaints. In fact, he has done a good job such that even the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) is jealous of the work that has been done by the Senator for Migori. There have been no complaints. As the Secretary General (SG), I am here to assure the House that I have not had any complaints regarding the job that was done by Sen. Eddie during the disaster response by the ODM. Those few who want to take away what has been donated by Kenyans in good faith to help fellow countrymen will face a jail term of 10 years or a fine of Kshs10 million, or both. Madam Temporary Speaker, if you allow me, I will touch very quickly on issues that I consider negative. The first negative has been touched on by Senators who have contributed before me. It is the desire to always come up with new authorities, boards or structures at the national level. In Clause 5, there is a new authority that has been created for disaster management. This is a big problem for me. I always look at the composition of those authorities and I have always had a problem with them. If the role of disaster 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."
}