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{
    "id": 498688,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/498688/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 378,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I beg to reply. First of all, I want to really thank the Senators who have contributed to this Motion. They have brought out all the issues that are facing our hospitals in general and more specifically, the problems facing the health personnel, including doctors, nurses, clinical officers and all cadres of workers in the hospitals. Madam Temporary Speaker, I am glad that those who have spoken have all agreed that there is a problem that should be addressed by both levels of Government. The real challenges that have come out have to do with finances. The county governments, with the allocations that they currently have, are not able to provide services including proper remuneration to their staff. This is true because as we are talking some counties have not been able to pay their personnel on time. I am aware of a hospital in my county where the temporary staff - people who are at the low level in terms of staffing - have gone without salary for some months because of the limited finances that are available. If temporary staff at the low levels cannot be managed or remunerated, what about the specialists in those areas? Very soon, there will be a problem. Madam Temporary Speaker, under the Maputo Declaration, agriculture is supposed to get 10 per cent of the national budget. There is a similar declaration concerning health where we have undertaken to provide 15 per cent. The two functions, which are devolved in this country, according to the Constitution should be getting 25 per cent of the national budget. We are all aware that the total budget going to the counties for all functions is nowhere near there because whatever is allocated is also shared with other departments, Ministries or functions and the administrative work of the county. Therefore, it is important that allocations to counties be enhanced so that health services do not suffer. Madam Temporary Speaker, the issue of personnel has also come up. Most counties do not have adequate personnel especially at the specialist level. We, in the Senate have resolved that every county should have a Level 5 hospital. That is what we are all aiming to move towards. In Kitale and Trans Nzoia, we have resolved to move to that direction. However, we may have physical facilities, but then where shall we get personnel if they are not transferrable freely from other institutions? 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."
}