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"content": "human life and diversity. The stage to do these things, in my view, is during early childhood as opposed to later on in life. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the issue of disparity has also been raised by the previous speakers that I have been fortunate to listen to. The fact is that we do not have criteria which assure that each county has adequate facilities for children to access early childhood education. I am aware, for example, that in Tharaka Nithi County, which I represent in this House, in certain areas we have fairly enough centres; but not in other areas. I will give an example of the lower part of Tharaka North District or sub-county, the lower part of Chuka and Igamba Ng’ombe Constituency where you hardly find enough centres. Therefore, going forward, the issue of disparities is something that should be built into any policy of our counties ECD system. The other thing I want to comment on, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, is in connection with how much time should be spent in early childhood education, because I also think we take our children to school very early for no reason. Right now, children are spending three years in school – I know Sen. Ongera has spoken to that just now – I think those three years are wasted. We take our children to school very early, they spend a whole three years in school when I think, maybe, one-and-a-half years of singing, playing and learning the national anthem and the colours of our flag are enough for preparing for future education. Something must be wrong. At the moment, if you get a university student or even a university graduate and ask them to tell you the second line of the second stanza of the National Anthem of Kenya, they will not tell you! In fact, most of us here in this Senate only know the first stanza of our National Anthem. That is a problem. The education system is the surest way of inculcating a value system that can help us build a stronger society. During the Moi regime, there were efforts towards building patriotism in the country. However, this went overboard and included pledging loyalty to individuals as opposed to pledging loyalty to the country and our nation. The issue of how much time you spend in ECD is important because this provides a very good framework for our children. The last point I want to make is in connection with legislative proposals. This report does not provide any legislative intervention. At least, I have not seen any. Probably I am wrong. However, I have not seen any legislative proposals. It should be the practice of our committees that every time they go out there, to remember our entry point as Senate, as Parliament, which is in law making. Therefore, tell us, for example, owing to the gaps you have identified, among other things, what legal interventions should be introduced so that these reports are carried over by individual Senators or by offices like my office or by the same committees and translated into legislative proposals. The more laws we make, the more relevant we remain as a Senate. I say this emphasizing that there is a trend towards adoption of numerous reports and Motions which have no force in law. When we are audited, as a Senate, the most relevant contribution we will be judged on is how many laws we will have passed and how they impact on people’s lives. Going forward, I hope that this committee will take up this issue and help us develop legislation. I have seen a proposal, at the Lower House, on ECD. I am surprised, given that the ECD is already a devolved function. That legislation should have come from the Upper House as opposed to the Lower House. 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."
}