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{
    "id": 497394,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/497394/?format=api",
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    "content": "some areas of Parliament. This is a shame because Parliament should be the first institution to lead by example. There should be no place that Sen. Njoroge or any other Senator living with a disability cannot access. We must make it compulsory particularly for buildings that are being put up right now so that they comply with certain regulations to ensure access to persons living with disabilities. We must make it mandatory for all public buildings to comply so that every other person can follow suit. Sen. Njoroge does not need sympathy from us. There is a misconception about persons living with disabilities. You are now thinking that you appointed Sen. Njoroge as a favour. You may be thinking that Sen. Njoroge needs sympathy from you; that is not the case. Our colleagues do not need sympathy or favour. These are rights. We must make sure that institutions comply with these requirements particularly in the arena that is provided for in the Constitution. I have realised that many people living with disabilities have acquired quality education. They have excelled in various areas. The United Kingdom (UK), once, had a person living with disability as a Cabinet Minister. Many countries have followed suit. This is because we need to conduct effective public education so that people realise that we must evaluate persons living with disabilities on the basis of competence and they must be given the opportunities that they deserve. It is not a favour. We must tell parents who have children living with disabilities that that is not a condemnation. It is a situation that can be dealt with and that this country should provide the necessary support in terms of improving the living standards of people living with disabilities from the point of educating them, to providing them with adequate infrastructure, employment, elective politics and any other facet of our society. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I hope the Kenyan public will be sufficiently informed and capacitated so that it is not only through nomination or special seats accorded to them that we get Members who are disabled to the Senate or the National Assembly, but through competitive election. They should be able to bring to the House a transformation agenda for this country. If we follow these steps progressively, in a few years time, we will not need to do anybody a favour; not the women, the youth or the disabled will require any favour. I recall when you were elected, in one of your contributions, you said that it was a misnomer to think that the Senate was only reserved for a certain age bracket. That some of us despite our definition of being youth as described in the Constitution or by virtue that we are younger than quite a number of Senators, we are here by right. We hope that more people will find the strength to rise to this occasion and ensure that people who face certain disadvantages in life are accorded the necessary opportunities. I hope this debate can also take place in the county assemblies. I am yet to see the robust nature of debates in county assemblies because they are supposed to be the reciprocal legislative organs with respect to complimenting the work of the National Assembly. Members representing constituencies with special interests must also undergo a certain level of mobilization so that they can now realize what they are here for. I have seen people in special categories who forget – unlike the Senators for Elgeyo-Marakwet and Mombasa counties – they are under certain special obligation. They are not supposed to be sycophants of the political establishment or the nominating authorities, but to courageously and fearlessly represent those constituencies. 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."
}