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{
    "id": 201645,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/201645/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 105,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Odoyo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 340,
        "legal_name": "Peter Ochieng Odoyo",
        "slug": "peter-odoyo"
    },
    "content": "Yes, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Part II (6) of the Bill has a 16 member Board. Most of them are Government officials. We have almost 11 Government officials and five so-called private members appointed by the Minister. I believe there should be room for other independent bodies to participate, especially in private research. There are private research bodies, including international bodies operating in Kenya, that could be able to assist in such a Board. I have in mind, for example, the universities like University of Nairobi (UON), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and Kenyatta University who undertake a lot of research. Yet no university is represented in this Board. The Ministry of Education, the National Council of Science and Technology (NCST) are represented in this Board. I believe that the universities should be represented in this Board. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the safety of the human health and the environment are the two issues that will affect mankind of the next generation. Today we are dealing with the weather and environment issues. These issues will affect our living standards and how we operate, especially the concept that living organisms can now be used to affect the environment. Ebola is a disease that at one time was said to have been created in a laboratory. The biowarfare and the poisonous gases are now within reach of scientists. Indeed, they can do a lot of damage unless we have an authority which will manage and control their movement. To that extent, I support the Minister for bringing this very most important Bill to create this Authority. Mr. Speaker, Sir, under Part II (8) which deals with the Powers of the Board, while a lot of power has been given to the Board to control, I have not seen enough of consensus building. There are many stakeholders who I believe the Board should be empowered to consult as they establish this authority. Many diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), HIV/AIDS or Ebola affect people globally. There is not enough room on the terms of reference for this particular Board to enable it consult at international level on a much higher frequency than will be expected of an ordinary Board. Mr. Speaker, Sir, while the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is a board member, I see here, for example, that the Director of Meteorology is excluded. Today, the weather is an important part and parcel of the environment. I believe that he should be represented on this particular Board. Some of the activities that are proposed and that we saw here being done in the world of research will affect the weather. This will affect our environment. We have an avalanche of what we call immoral behaviour in the western world which may slip into the Kenyan society. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Chief Public Health Officer is a member of this Board. Whether that 4314 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 3, 2007 should be an appropriate person or the Director of Medical Services who should have been the most appropriate member, leaves a lot to be desired. I would propose that instead of the Chief Public Health Officer we should have the Director of Medical Services who the Chief Public Officer reports to. By so doing, we will be able to cut across a much wider human and medical fraternity than the Chief Public Health Officer whose main role is on prevention and protection of the general public rather than treatment of particular diseases."
}