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{
    "id": 1547718,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547718/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 252,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Veronica Maina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "right to access information on an equal basis with others in a timely manner and without additional cost. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am thinking of this right in the context of education. One of the areas where children who are living with disabilities have to have to be listened to or have to express themselves, they would be affected by this right. Now that this right is defined, I am asking myself how well it will be implemented, especially to the school going children who are living with disability and they need to be in school. How will it be implemented? Does it need more backup in terms of legislation or regulation to ensure that schools where these children are being taken to study, they are able to access that right to freedom of expression and opinion? The Government now has taken up a policy of where these children should be integrated back into ordinary schools to study. Is this right capable of being implemented with just this provision? It is a new introduction and I do not know whether we do have an avenue now to even firm up this new clause. If it is to be implemented and enforced, how do you affirm that right of freedom of expression and opinion? If one enters a classroom in Republic of Kenya such as where I went to school, some of those children may not be able to access even the height of the desks or the boards where they are being taught while that freedom of expression and opinion is supposed to be seen or displayed. How do we have that right customized to make sure that it is not impossible? How do we ensure that right is enforced within our schools? Is it possible to have schools having a wing or a section that enables the provision of this new clause to be enforceable to the category of children that it would apply to? It is a very good introduction because it is a bouncing ball. Maybe, it is a right that forms the threshold on which infrastructure is customized to accommodate children living with disabilities. This right can be used and forced further by regulation. I know this is at the very final stage and the report is being adopted. However, an amendment can follow later to bring in regulations or other provisions that will help us to use the right of access in partition of information and ideas. This is because part of it would come through an intensive deliberate education programme. With that, it will not be lost on paper or on theory or just provided for and does not have a budget that can help it to be enhanced to a point where it can be utilized properly to benefit the category or the clientele that it is intended for. I am pleased with the report and the consensus. I am happy with the way the National Assembly has behaved on this specific Bill. The National Assembly should know that we do not need to break our sweat, fight or contend unnecessarily on matters that can be agreed upon. That should apply to all the Bills lying in the National Assembly awaiting consensus. All those Bills must be looked into and such reports returned back so that legislation in Senate is not unnecessarily hindered by delay in getting consensus or feedback on amendments. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Once again, congratulations Sen. Crystal Asige."
}