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{
    "id": 1557525,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1557525/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 233,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Many people have varied opinions on her performance in the Ministry of Health. However, by and large, she did exceptionally well, especially considering that she was midwifing a transition from what was a very difficult National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) riddled with corruption. The corruption cartels in Afya House, which was christened Mafia House, were expected to fight back. You have seen the pushback that has been there with SHIF because corruption fights back. We always say that. I do not know why we tend to forget that the corruption cartels that bedevilled NHIF are still within this country. If you doubt, look at the exposé that was done by some German media house on organ trafficking within a health facility in Eldoret. The same characters who are being mentioned in the organ trafficking are the same ones who are being mentioned in the theft of public funds at NHIF. Therefore, corruption fights back. That is why I am very slow at admonishing public officers who have served in this Ministry. I know these very powerful cartels have the capacity to use whatever means they can to tarnish people's names. We have seen them using many means to tarnish even the name of Ms Susan Nakhumicha, who by my estimation did exceptionally well. I commend her. I vouch for her for approval as our Permanent Representative to the UN-Habitat Mission in Kenya. Hon. Temporary Speaker, let me speak about Mr James Buyekane Muhati. As the Vice- Chairperson said, and for those who have bothered to go through the Report, he has served our country very well as a Principal Secretary and in various other capacities like at the IEBC. He is moving on to Guangzhou as a Consul-General. For those who are businesspeople like me and Hon. Keynan, we will tell you that if you have not been to Guangzhou and you are a trader in this country, then you have not been doing any trade. This is a very important destination for many Kenyan businesspeople who import products from China, and those establishing cottage industries in this country. Many people go to Guangzhou to learn from the cottage industries that have developed in that city and are now mega industries. Many Kenyans are importing skills and equipment from Guangzhou to set up cottage industries in the agro- processing value chain. I believe Mr Muhati will do well in harnessing our relations between the province of Guangzhou in the Republic of China and our country, more so, the business people between the two countries. Mr Abdi Dubat has served as a Principal Secretary in the Government of Kenya. He is a seasoned accountant. I know that for a fact because we are in the same profession. We are experiencing trade issues within the East African Community (EAC) in regard to disproportionate tariffs between our countries. We are in an era of protectionist policies where everybody wants to protect their own. Kenya is no exception. We must protect our industries, manufacturers, and businesspeople. Mr Abdi Dubat has his work cut out for him at the EAC in Arusha to ensure that even as we work together within the EAC and other regional blocs such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, we should protect our industries. I believe that he will serve very well having been a Principal Secretary and a seasoned accountant. I know Hon. Junet wants us to put the Question, but I was trying to buy time for other reasons which he knows. I support the Motion."
}