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{
    "id": 339355,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/339355/?format=api",
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    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the reason as to why I am singling out this aspect is that during the time we were lobbying for the passage of the Constitution, the church was particularly unhappy with the inclusion of the words “public health officer” in the issue of performing a procedure where the life of a mother is in danger. The church felt that the provision was opening the door for abortion by untrained people. I remember my good brother; hon. Isaac Ruto, in his “NO” campaigns, was moving around the country and telling people that morgue attendants would the ones defined as “public health officers”. So, this is a very clear departure from what Isaac and his allies were pushing for. Therefore, the Bill provides for very high standards. There are people who are very well schooled. Our women and children will be in safe hands once we pass this Bill. I would want to encourage the Minister or the relevant Departmental Committee, especially because of time; if they could provide for open and competitive processing of appointment of officer bearers under this Bill, and not the very many staff, especially for providing very strict standards for approving institutions for training of public health officials and for disciplinary measures to be taken where people have gone wrong as well as for publishing names of persons who are approved and registered. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, regarding practicing by a person who has not been registered, the amount of money being levied as fine is extremely low. If you compare it with a similar provision in The Universities Bill, where we said that if you con members of the public, who spend several years and commit a lot of money in university programmes; you will be fined Kshs10 million, you will appreciate that this is very low. Therefore, by borrowing from The Universities Bill, we should enhance these sentences because there are so many quacks who are taking advantage of poor Kenyans, who are putting a lot of money and time into degree programmes. Again, there is a provision which appears punitive on persons who have gone through training. I know that the provision says that once you have finalised the training, you shall not be penalised but if I had undertaken two years of training, why should I be penalised for a fault which is not mine? If the Government failed to exercise due diligence to ensure that there are no wrong people who are conning Kenyans, it should not be the problem of members of the public. I would want to encourage the Minister to look into that especially the Part I was talking of lenient sentencing in Clause 28(2). With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}