Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 554348,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/554348/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 285,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "move away from the hidden array of issues including taboos and cultural practices. This is where we are behind because most of these issues are not canvassed very well. I only have an issue with the membership of the board because I think we should reduce it a little bit. We have 16 members and I think in terms of navigation and decision- making, if there is a way to reduce that board, it would make it most effective. There should be representation from various groups of people including key Ministries like health, education and Treasury. If possible, we should find where the convergence can be made across the various sectors so that we have a smaller board. We should make sure that the board has an odd number so that when it comes to voting, a stalemate is avoided. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there is one aspect that I wanted to discuss in detail in this particular Bill. That is the way the various sections have been covered very extensively. When people talk about assisted reproduction, they think of surrogate mothers and so on. In this Bill, Sen. Sijeny has ensured that even the most complicated assisted reproduction is taken into consideration including intra-uterine inseminations, embryo transfers, other assisted reproduction services, pre-implementation genetic diagnosis and all others have been put very well and need to be taken into consideration. Also key in this Bill is the fact that information in counseling has to be given at various points so it is not just a matter of one deciding to opt for one particular assisted reproduction and not the other. There should be knowledge about the choice of the system chosen. Therefore, some sort of pre-analysis must have been done including a medical examination to ensure that people choose the best option for getting a child. The Bill also ensures that issues are addressed at the national and county level. The issue of consent is also addressed in the Bill where there is freedom to withdraw. The awareness of the rights of the child has also been very well stipulated. At any one point, any sort of critical decisions are made when people are very clear. We have to go beyond the point where we think natural birth is the only way to go but think about all the other options that people have to engage in. One of the issues that keep creating problems over and over again is the issue of confidentiality. There is going to be a register with information with the full names of the donor, the physical address and so on. That information is not necessarily for sharing but it will be there. Under certain circumstances, children later on will come and will want to have an idea of what happened. Therefore, under specific provisions, that information can be given. A clause addressing confidentiality of the register has been put in place so that people do not use or misuse that particular information in any way. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, one of the other provisions for surrogate parenthood is that this agreement has to be done in writing, signed by the two parties, entered into in Kenya and in accordance with the prescribed form as contained in the schedule. This was the legislative aspect that I was talking about earlier which is important to conceptualize to make sure that nothing goes wrong even as the agreement is signed. Requirements are also made for the surrogate parenthood agreement; what must go there. For example, these people should be competent in entering the agreement. The surrogate mother must be 21 years and above. All these provisions are aimed at ensuring that this is not some 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."
}