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{
    "id": 1523399,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1523399/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 345,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suna West, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Peter Masara",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to continue informing this House that the work of police officers is in most cases is a very exhausting job in dangerous working conditions. They encounter highly distressful situations that expose them to trauma daily. Combined with the demands of family life and social expectations, the exposure can lead to many problems: thus, causing depilating stress, job burnout, anxiety, post-trauma stress disorder, depression, and even suicidal indications. It is essential that police officers have access to counselling and psycho-sociological support services because they are vital for maintaining their wellbeing and enabling them to function optimally both professionally and at a personal level. The Bill itself is a product of so many supporters. As I mentioned when I was moving the Second Reading, this amendment Bill is a product of the 12th Parliament. I was in the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security for five years and I went around this country. I went to almost 27 out of our 47 counties. I appreciate the police officers we gave an opportunity to give us their version of life. I came up with this amendment Bill from my interaction with police officers all over the country, including those who were working in refugee camps. Before I proceed, I appreciate the former Chairman of the Departmental Committee of Administration and National Security, the late Hon. Paul Koinange. He was very passionate about police officers. His efforts and support enabled me to pursue this line to help police officers. I have heard the concerns and contributions of the many Members of Parliament. They have raised fundamental issues on the welfare of our police officers in Kenya. The challenges are not limited to housing, health, salary, living conditions and so many other things like mobility. I encourage Members to fast track this Bill because despite those challenges, one can navigate when in sound mental health. The problems police officers face become a disaster when mental and psychological issues add up. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I want to take you through a very serious Report of a Health Taskforce of 2020. The contents of that Report indicate that one in every ten police officers have mental issues. That means you might not know when your bodyguard, your Officer Commanding Station (OCS), or the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) has a mental issue. You may not know because, based on the Report, one in every ten police officers have a mental challenge. What is the remedy? The remedy is to fast-track this amendment to the National Police Service Commission Act to make it mandatory for the National Police Service Commission to institute or initiate psycho-support centres in every county. The original version of my amendment was to establish a psycho-support centre in every divisional headquarters. Because of the financial constraints in this country, we The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}