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{
    "id": 563900,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/563900/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 165,
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    "content": "(CDF) money to bring change. I saw in the newspaper that Mandera East Constituency will receive Kshs220 million. I would wish that they focus and prioritise matters education. They should ensure that there are boarding schools where students will feel safe. A few teachers should also be housed in those schools. There is no need of a scenario where everyone fights to own a school yet facilities are not standard. We should make schools a “heaven” for children. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would wish that leaders look at the issue differently. We should explore other ways of safeguarding education of our children. The Constitution is very clear that everyone has a right to education. Anyone can go to court when that right is denied. You will remember that during the era of former President Kibaki, more than 10 years ago, we had free primary education. That meant that many children in the former North Eastern Province had an opportunity to go to school. We never focused on that even when there was the CDF. That was not only in the north eastern region but the whole Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). We can agree on something, as a Senate, and ensure that the Government does it right. In the ASALs, untrained teachers should be given an opportunity to teach in those areas. That includes Turkana, Pokot and Samburu where there is cattle rustling and fighting. Those who suffer are women and children. You will find that most schools have been closed down not only in the north eastern region but also in the north rift region. However, you will heard that MPs are building other schools in their constituencies. When you go to Baringo – the Senator for Kisii County can attest to that because he was with us in the Cohesion team – schools have been closed down. We need to ask ourselves – as we allocate more resources – about how to ensure prioritisation of education in the ASALs. We should ensure that prioritisation is done differently from how it is done in other regions. We know that we have a challenge of teachers. However, we can use teachers from those regions. Those teachers should be given incentives to motivate them to teach. It should not be like what happened in Turkana where Administration Police (AP) officers walked into classrooms with guns, put them down and started teaching. The Senator for Wajir County is asking us to ensure that there is a conducive environment for children in a very harsh environment. If that is the case, they will appreciate that they can go to school and change their lives through education. That is the only thing that any child believes in; that when you have education, whether from a rich or poor family, you can afford a meal. That is the most important thing about this Motion. If we do not address the issues affecting the north eastern region; terrorism, extremism and the rest, they will continue to persist. First of all, there should be a place where minds and attitudes of people can be changed. If there are no classrooms or any place where people can sit and discuss, then, we will face greater challenges than what we have at the moment. The other day, there was a big security meeting where the same issues and the challenges that the youth face were discussed. We know that the youth are the majority forming about 70 per cent of the Kenyan population. Most of them are very productive. If 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."
}