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{
    "id": 536805,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/536805/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 123,
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    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "because our mandate and responsibility is clearly stipulated in the Constitution and it should not be overlooked. I want to touch on very few issues. First, it is the issue of Level 5 Hospitals. Last year, we had a very interesting debate. We, as a House, felt that the amount that was given was not sufficient. It was actually halved from the previous year. I can see that the Committee has recommended that this be upped a bit to Kshs3.6 billion. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Level 5 Hospitals do not serve only the counties where they are; even if they are in eleven counties, they serve across counties. This amount is still not sufficient considering what is happening in the health sector. We have seen patients suffer and having to be transferred to Nairobi where they do not have enough room for medical care. It is a mess. We must make sure that this amount is actually improved, even if not this year, we should keep on improving it and not the other way round. My second point is with regard to the issue of emergency fund. I am very supportive of the idea that counties are the ones that are very responsible for any disaster affecting the people. The other day, I saw my Governor appealing to the national Government to supply people of Nakuru with food. First of all, Nakuru County is not classified as a county which relies on relief food. However, there are areas in Naivasha and Gilgil where some people sleep hungry because of the dry season. It is a pity that Nakuru County Government is appealing to the national Government to provide them with money to buy food for their people. It is not fair. I support this Ksh4.4 billion emergency fund, but I also hope that the county government and the county assemblies, as they do their budgets will do clear regulations on how this money will be spent. We should come up with clear checks and balances to curb corruption and make sure money is used for the intended purpose. Regarding the equalization fund, we have spoken about this fund for some time. We are told that there are some funds that are being carried over from the previous years. There is a balance of sum of Kshs1.8 billion from last year’s allocation that was not disbursed. This was because the regulations that were supposed to unbundle this and make sure that it was done, have never been tabled and discussed. We must expedite this to the National Assembly because that is where the regulations go, that this money can save Kenyans and support very many counties, about six counties that had been listed. We cannot keep pushing it. We must expedite them and make sure that they are done in good time and make sure that these funds can be helpful to Kenyans. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to the issue of medical equipment, I have been very categorical that the counties can sign the contracts.I hope that governors will sign these contracts. However, the more I think about it, the more I see that we are excited by the fact that we have a problem in the health sector. Recently, the radiology machines at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) broke down. It has been chaotic and very painful to see Kenyans condemned to death. Kenyans are staring at death in the face, helpless, not knowing what to do. As long as the machines will be leased, we will not be concerned about servicing. At times, we could even outsource since we do not have the know-how to repair. We have to outsource the technology and the manpower to deal with servicing. 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."
}