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{
    "id": 195318,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/195318/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 119,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Yinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 154,
        "legal_name": "Edwin Ochieng Yinda",
        "slug": "edwin-yinda"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to support this important Motion. I would like to support this Motion, because I strongly feel that common Kenyans are very affected by the non-existence of protection. I will go back to the matatu issue, although it had already been brought up by a contributor to the Motion earlier. There was a time when an attempt was made to regulate, so that the Nissan matatus could only carry seven passengers. Now, we are back to a situation where a seven-seater matatu carries up to 14 passengers. This means that the consumers who use matatus are totally unprotected. People sit on each other, and when accidents occur we experience serious situations. I support this Motion because the common mwananchi needs protection. It is only a Motion like the one we are debating now that will protect the common mwananchi . The cost of production of local goods also needs to be checked, because both the cost and the quality of goods that we produce locally leave a lot to be desired. Business people have no regard to the consumers, for they increase prices as and when they want. They increase them at will. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, my feeling is that the Government should be in a position to ensure that wananchi are not exploited. This is not happening at the moment and I hope that when this Motion is passed and it becomes law, it will have provisions which will guarantee protection of consumers. The common mwananchi can no longer afford commodities like salt, sugar and tea leaves and yet they are basic products. Something must be done because if we get into a situation where we do not control the price of maize meal, salt, sugar and tea leaves, this, as has been in many countries, could lead to a revolution. When we hear that there are food riots in other countries, let us not think that such a thing cannot happen in our country. This is because it will reach a point where the common man will not afford to buy foodstuff. What will be left for these people is to raid food stores and shops so that they can support themselves. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to bars and restaurants in this country, there are no regulations as to what sanitation and health requirements that these institutions need to have before they are allowed to operate. There are consumers who go to these restaurants and bars because they are cheap. They end up getting diseases because those places have no sanitation. They do not have ablutions. People have to walk far away to relieve themselves. This situation should 770 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 30, 2008 not be allowed to continue without being checked. The Motion that we are discussing in this House will bring checks on such places. Presently, most of the district hospitals in this country can be described as \"death chambers\". Patients sleep on the Floor and there is no medicine. The quality of service is almost non-existent and yet the people of this country have to live with those services. We need to put checks in place so that our hospitals are functional and people can go there to get better service. With those few remarks, I beg to support the Motion."
}