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{
    "id": 444222,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/444222/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 359,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Limo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1915,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Kirui Limo",
        "slug": "joseph-kirui-limo"
    },
    "content": "calls about power being disconnected, medicine not being available, lack of staff and so on. I have a dispensary by the name Kimogul which has been operating without a nurse for the last three weeks. There is also Londiani District Hospital which has been operating without electricity which was disconnected because of non-payments. As we devolve functions, it is important for us to realize that the country is not divided into pieces and there is need to work together. I really wonder if Kenya Power Company is still a State agency or it is a private agency. How can they disconnect power in a Level 3 or Level 4 hospital yet they know health is fundamental? To deny the hospitals power for a whole month is really serious. The drafters of the Constitution realized that the Constitution is not supposed to be fixed; rather it is supposed to work for us. Article 187 of the Constitution states “A function or power of government at one level may be transferred to a government at the other level by agreement between the governments if: (a) the function or power would be more effectively performed or exercised by the receiving government; and, (b) the transfer of the function or power is not prohibited by the legislation under which it is to be performed or exercised”. Hon. Speaker, there is nothing which will stop us by saying that we are not prepared to mess the health sector by transferring some of the roles when we realize that some of the agencies charged with devolution are not well prepared to ensure that the transferred functions are exercised in a manner that will serve Kenyans properly. Those functions should not be interfered with by the inefficiencies that are inherent in any system. The drafters of the Constitution indicated that the functions would be transferred in phases; three years. Unfortunately, the functions were transferred in haste. It is time for Kenyans to realize that what is important is not who is in charge; what is important is that service is being rendered efficiently. The national Government and the county governments must realize that the health sector is very important. It is time they sat together and agreed that there are functions which can still be performed together. I want to thank the Departmental Committee on Health because they have given us an elaborate report. We support that the two governments must come together and discuss this matter because we are interested in ensuring that the services rendered in our health centres and hospitals are efficient and enjoyed by Kenyans in accordance with the Constitution. Kenyans need to access health care without problems. I want to support this Report and say this House should come together and support it. Thank you, hon. Speaker, for giving me this chance to discuss this important Report."
}