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{
"id": 34554,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/34554/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Eng. Gumbo",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 24,
"legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to start contributing to this Motion by paying tribute to a true Kenyan patriot and an artist extraordinaire, the late Habel Kifoto of Maroon Commandoes. I say this because the late Kifoto, who died three days ago, with his Maroon Commandoes Band and band members like the late Laban Ochuka did more in their work to uplift the esteem of our girls by cautioning against early marriages and singing songs in praise of the spirit of hard work. It is my belief that if, for instance, Habel Kifoto’s song, Uvivu ni Mbaya, had been made a signature tune for Kenya, perhaps, the number of girls in our schools who go up to university would have increased and, perhaps, the biting hunger that our country is going through now would have been reduced or, at least, minimized. I pray to the Almighty God to rest the soul of this Kenyan patriot in eternal peace until we meet him again. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I move this Motion very aware that as we speak, there are very commendable initiatives by the Government spearheaded by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya to make available free sanitary towels to our teenage girls in primary and secondary schools. This is laudable and it is a good idea that the Government realized this missing gap and has moved in to help these girls so that they can continue with their education. Even as we note that the Budget that was read here about two months ago has made provision for the distribution of free sanitary towels in our schools, one thing to note is that the money as allocated is not enough. There are also questions as to how effectively these free sanitary towels will be distributed to most parts of Kenya. I would like a situation where, for instance, I can authoritatively know how much of that money will end up in schools in Rarieda. To the teenage girls in Rarieda, this is still not possible hence the need to be able to formalize this initiative so that we can be able to tell what is available, how it is being distributed and how well and equitable it is going to all parts of the country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I said that the money allocated cannot be enough because as we speak now, according to the last census, Kenya, as a country has about 4.5 million girls between the ages of 15years and 25 years who will need this service, and 60 per cent of these girls can be described as people who live under conditions of extreme poverty. Therefore, about 2.7 million girls will need this service. I am a parent and I know for a fact that on average, you need between Kshs500 to Kshs1,000 per teenage girl per month to be able to access this service. So, clearly, there is a gap which we must address so that this service becomes free, compulsory and readily available. This is a biological process that no one has a choice, but to comply with. Our country has made commendable strides in the last ten years or so. To me, one of the biggest strides this country has made is an attempt at making basic schooling free and compulsory. However, you cannot talk of free and compulsory schooling when we know, for example, that many of these children are unable even to afford basics like school uniform. We cannot talk of free and compulsory education when it is not possible to provide free health care to children and, therefore, it becomes difficult when they fall ill to go to school. But most importantly, for our girls, we cannot talk of free and compulsory schooling when we know that those girls who cannot afford this basic facility of sanitary towels will be missing four to five days every month from school."
}