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{
    "id": 1494796,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494796/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 29,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Okenyuri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for this opportunity. I equally wish to join my colleague Senators in expressing my displeasure in the failure by the Cabinet Secretaries to appear in this House, which has the mandate of the people. This is one of the reasons I want to side with the President when he says that he is a lonely voice in Government. The Cabinet Secretaries have a chance to add voice to what the Government is doing in serving Kenyans. Unfortunately, we see a Cabinet Secretary tendering a very casual letter to Members, yet there is a very critical issue that was to be addressed this morning. There is the issue of polio vaccines and the allegations of children who have suffered adverse effects. I expected the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Health to address and shed light on those matters. Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are very critical issues that we, as a House, ventilate on, question on and get highlights on what the Government is doing. It is sad that when offered such a platform, our Cabinet Secretaries tend to prioritize other matters than life and death decisions that we, as a House, have to make. As a young legislator, I must say it is very disheartening. These are people who should lead by example. However, this is what they are showing the young people, women of this country and very many other special interest groups that we represent. It is sad and I do not wish that Members keep lamenting over this issue. There is a clear-cut line on why Parliament acts as a separate arm of Government. The cabinet secretaries need to prioritize the business of Parliament because it has the mandate of the people. I am very disappointed this morning that critical matters that were to be raised by different Senators will not be addressed, yet time goes by because the clock is slowly ticking. This should not be a joke like any other. A serious discussion needs to happen around this because it has now become a norm for cabinet secretaries not to show up. Time elapses before one even gets a solution to what they raised. If it were patients, you would even have lost them before they get a redress on their matters. Thank you."
}