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"id": 1501953,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501953/?format=api",
"text_counter": 155,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13582,
"legal_name": "Wahome Wamatinga",
"slug": "wahome-wamatinga"
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"content": "Addressing does not mean castigating SHIF and SHA will justify the small problems. Let us work on it, refine and address the shortfalls and the teething problems that came with it, and make sure that it works because it is a right of working for every Kenyan to access affordable health services. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Taifa Care, which was attempted by the Kibaki government did not work. I recall at that time, none other than Hon. Charity Ngilu was the Minister for Health. She did an attempt on it, but it did not work. During the reign of Uhuru, it also did not work. It is the high time and an opportunity to make this work so that when the books of history are written, it will be said, yes, this Senate enabled that to happen. That will be done through ensuring that we put the legislative gaps to a stop by legislating and putting Acts that will ensure that the shortfalls are addressed. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is not lost to us that we came to power having come from COVID-19, and having faced one of the worst droughts in the last 40 years. As I listened to my colleague, Sen. Wambua talk, I thought he does not even come from Ukambani, which was one of the most hard hit regions by the drought. We know that we were not able for three consecutive years to service our foreign obligations. We could not service them or repay debts that were meant to be paid. Therefore, we, in this regime, had to tackle all that. It is not rocket science. When we came to power the cost of living was high and the inflation was high, but it has come down. Let us not just oppose the President because we belong to the opposition. Let us rise up and say that, yes, there is a shortfall we must address. One of the shortfalls is corruption and we must address corruption. We must call it out regardless of who you are in this country. I, therefore, invite all of us to subject ourselves into a lifestyle audit in order to see how we are living in the short time we have been in office and whether, we have earned that much. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, some of the people going around castigating the Presidency and the Government have amassed their wealth through corruption. We must be brave and bold enough to say that enough is enough because this is the time we are called as leaders to rise up and say that we must support this country. This is because, the success of every Kenyan regardless of where they are, is a success for every Kenyan. As I sit down, I know there is the proposed High Grand Falls Dam and other dams in Nyeri County that have been promised since we got independence, but that cannot be realized unless we embrace public-private partnerships. My humble request to my colleagues is that we should address the gaps that are there, so that we can deliver what Kenyans have waited for, for 60 years. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is sad when we have an education system that will ensure an orphan gets an equal opportunity with a child from a rich family, but I hear people opposing it. It is time leaders joined hands and worked for Kenyans regardless of where people come from. Whether you come from marginalized communities or from the ‘ Murima,’ every child has a right to access to education and that can only be done if the kids that go to academies pay a little bit more than those who are orphans. That is what the President is saying, an education system that will ensure everyone gets their right and opportunities regardless of where they come from. 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."
}