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{
    "id": 384215,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/384215/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 68,
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    "content": "centres. I hope that somebody, in contributing, will find it necessary to introduce some amendments. I think it is also important for the Mover of the Motion to have noticed that it is not right to say; “in each of the 47 counties” because Nairobi and Mombasa are over supplied. We are thinking of areas like Turkana, Garissa, Wajir, Bungoma and other areas that have suffered neglect for the last 50 years. Health services, under our new Constitution, are guaranteed rights although we describe them as aspirational rights. However, truly, these are guaranteed rights. Every Kenyan is guaranteed good medicare and every Kenyan must access good healthcare at affordable rates. There are very many children in the countryside that are disabled because they missed polio jabs and some that lost their eye sight just because they were bitten by some flies. You will see children with big tummies. This is referred to as Kwashiorkor and it happens because we have not taken care of our country equitably. That is why we have devolution. That is why, at this day and age, we say that the resources of this country must be equitably distributed so that whether you come from Rumuruti or from Nairobi, you are treated equally in terms of availability of resources. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Motion also informs us that there are many issues we need to address so as to effect devolution. We have already passed Motions on education and roads. I am sure there will be something coming on water. I think Dr. Zani’s Motion is on water. This Senate will continue being relevant by bringing Motions of this nature not because we want to be rhetorical but because we must move them to their logical conclusions by effecting allocation of resources to achieve this. If you look at the distribution of medical personnel, Dr. Machage has graciously read us the statistics; you will find that there are certain parts of this country where a doctor is a dream. Even when doctors are posted there, they hardly last. They have to resign and go and set up their private businesses in the big cities; not because they do not want to work there, but because the facilities available do not enable them to work. You post a doctor to Wajir and expect him to go and live behind a shop as his residence. You post a doctor to Lokitaung and expect him to live without the facilities that a doctor requires. So, these Level 5 hospitals, I believe, will come as a full package. There will be a theatre, laboratory, morgue, doctor’s residence and everything that requires a doctor to function, so that a child born in Nairobi and one born in Kibish access the same medical facilities in the same country. This is what devolution was meant to bring to the people of this country. It is not about the centre distributing goodies in a magnanimous manner to the regions, but regions having the capacity and ability to determine their own agenda. That is why sometimes we feel a little sad to see the manner in which the current Budget has been crafted. You have devolved medical services, but you keep all the manna at the centre. You have devolved agricultural services, but still want to procure fertilizers for the farmers from the centre. You have devolved road services, but the money is still at the centre. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think that this Senate has a cardinal duty, despite the frustrations that we are encountering - These are teething problems and I am sure that we will get over them. We have a duty to ensure that every devolved service and facilities The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}