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"id": 215263,
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"speaker_name": "Prof. Oniang'o",
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"legal_name": "Ruth Khasaya Oniang'o",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance to support this Bill. I would like to congratulate the Nakuru Town Mayor for banning smoking in public places. The Mayor used his powers in the by-laws. I have not understood why other mayors and heads of townships have not done the same. We recall that when the Minister for Health banned tobacco smoking in public places, there was hue and cry, especially by those who promote tobacco production, tobacco processing and those who actually benefit from tobacco in this country. The reasons at that time were that they were not ready. They were taken unawares and it was just too abrupt. But Kenyans should, in fact, become a laughing stock. That is because when you go to the rest of the world, and I believe that is where Kenya fits, and not necessarily on this Continent--- We are very strategic as a country. You find that people come here. Tourists come and enjoy smoking in public places in Kenya because we allow them to do so. We are aware that most of the people who suffer from the effects of tobacco are passive smokers - those who do not smoke! I am happy that the Minister has gone ahead and highlighted the dangers of smoking. We have been told that the passive smokers, in fact, suffer more from tobacco effects than the smokers themselves. Just imagine a smoker. I have never smoked. That is one thing that I did not do during my youth. But I am aware that as you smoke, you blow away the smoke to other people. You do not even inhale. We are aware that, in fact, in planes in other countries, there used to be a section for smokers. But you do not have that any more. Not even on long haul flights. Those who smoke have to find a different way of copping with the nicotine levels that go low in their bodies. The World Health Organisation (WHO), a world body that ensures that we have good health, has ruled that nicotine is not good for our health. It is incumbent upon us, as the Government and leaders of the people, to make sure that our people are aware of the dangers of smoking. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, recently, I saw a packet of cigarettes in the Netherlands. It has a big warning that, in fact, tobacco smoking will lead to miscarriage, infertility and cardiovascular diseases. If we allow smoking here the way we do, it means that we do not care for Kenya as a nation. Our people will not be healthy enough to actually promote the development 2332 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 5, 2007 of this nation. They will not be healthy enough to enjoy life itself. I am also aware that when the Minister actually increased the taxation on tobacco--- I guess that was his own way of dealing with the problem. Really, it does not make sense at all! In the next door, that is Uganda and Tanzania, the same has not been taken care of. There is going to be free trade with tobacco and cigarettes coming here. It will not really do anything. So, we have to make sure that in public places, we safeguard the health of Kenyans who actually do not smoke. I hope that once we pass it here, we shall carry it beyond here and take it to the East African Legislative Assembly. Kenya actually needs to take the lead, show an example and try to erase the embarrassment that we caused ourselves when we delayed taking our legislators there. So, it needs a regional approach to make sure that, so long as we continue to interact freely, that is actually taken care of, just the same way as the European Union (EU) takes care of its problems. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are aware that Kenyans now are really not big smokers. But the few who do it smoke a lot. The few who smoke have a negative impact on the majority of Kenyans who actually do not smoke. We are also aware that the few who smoke incur a big bill on the health sector in this country. We have been told the effects of smoking. It causes cardiovascular diseases. We have been told the effects of it on fertility. We have been told the effects of it on chest problems. So, we have to make sure that we actually safeguard the health of our people. A chain smoker takes up a lot of money which can be used by the poor people. Money which should have gone to support families goes to smoking. I am also aware that people who smoke begin to look 50 years old when they are even 25 years old. You can just begin to see the effects of nicotine. One could even say: \"Look! We are a democratic country. It is my constitutional right. I can do whatever I want with my body and health.\" But what happens in case of nicotine? Unlike other anti-social behaviours like too much drinking, once you smoke, instead of it affecting you--- I just want to reiterate that, instead of it affecting you personally--- You cannot just say it is my body. It is in fact, affecting other people more. I am happy to see that this is going to be a phased programme. Unlike what might have happened before; people were complaining that they might lose their jobs. What will farmers do with what they have in the field? It is going to be phased, so that people have time. We will have farmers going into other farming enterprises. Smokers will begin to go through rehabilitation. They can then look at their health and see, in fact, that, that kind of behaviour is not good for them. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I just want to support that and say that the issue of advertising - bringing companies here to support sports. Because we are so poor, we just welcome them with open hands. We do not realise that, that is going to be a hoodwinker to our people who are poor. It is going to do a lot of harm to our youth. As a Government and people, we have to put a stop to that. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}