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{
    "id": 497346,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/497346/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 234,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13156,
        "legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo Jnr",
        "slug": "mutula-kilonzo-jnr"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank Sen. Njoroge for coming up with this Bill. The Bill is timely and in my own reading of the Act that was passed in 2003, it appears as if Sen. Njoroge is on the right path because the Act, for all intents and purposes, is unconstitutional. Before I contribute, I want to give my experience with this category of disabled persons. In 2001, I visited Ndia Constituency with the then former Member of Parliament – I cannot recall his name – to donate wheel chairs through the Rotary. After donating a wheelchair to one individual, this gentleman took off at high speed. I then asked why he had done so, and the answer I got was that he thought we may change our minds and for him that was a lifeline. That person had been locked in a dog kennel for over 15 years. Since that time, I have been donating wheelchairs through rotary since 2001. At any given time, I have a wheelchair in my office. In fact, I also donated the wheelchair that Sen. Godliver uses through rotary. We are paying lip service to these Kenyans and people that we love. The experience I have had is tragic. I am happy that the Bill proposes to offer facilities to this category of persons who are our brothers and sisters. Two weeks ago, a member of my county who comes from the University of Nairobi and disabled had a problem with his wheelchair. The wheelchair that they ended up getting cost Kshs15,200. It is sad that this category of persons can suffer so much and yet that equipment is very expensive. Somebody is making a profit when they should not. We must condemn this. Part of the incentive is to ensure that the wheelchairs that we give or those that are imported are available, cheap and can be repaired. Some of them cannot be repaired. There is a group of persons called the Association for the Physically Disabled Kenyans (APDK) who are manufacturing local wheelchairs and facilities for persons with disabilities. These are people who should be given incentives by the Government. They should be given funding so that wheelchairs are availed. Members may not even know the extent of the disabled persons in schools. Members of the Rotary Club in Kenya organize every year the Sunshine Rally which we hold at Jamhuri Park for schools that cater for the disabled students in Kenya. This is the only time when these children find time to come and play. The enthusiasm that you see in these children can break your heart. Therefore, in supporting this Bill, I will ask Sen. Njoroge to go back through this Bill with a toothcomb because there are many areas that are unconstitutional. I will start with Section 13 which he seeks to amend. This one reads; “the Council shall endeavor to secure reservation of 5 per cent of all casual emergency and contractual positions in the public service sectors for persons with disabilities.” Shame on us because for the last ten years, we have had a law that suggests that the only reservation we should give to the disabled persons is casual. This is an embarrassment. This is terrible. We should be embarrassed. However, Sen. Njoroge, this is an opportunity and we thank you. This is one of the ways of ensuring that this Constitution that we fought hard for is realised. 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."
}