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{
    "id": 571583,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/571583/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 180,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Elachi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13115,
        "legal_name": "Beatrice Elachi",
        "slug": "beatrice-elachi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this amendment Bill. Currently, there are 22 public universities in this country. According to this Bill, the county governments will facilitate universities to acquire land to put up infrastructure. When building a university, there are many amenities that are required to ensure that students learn in a conducive environment. Apart from infrastructure, we must provide them with security. Lack of these facilities will lead to a crisis like the one we are facing now in Garissa County after the terror attack on Garissa University. Many of the students came from other counties while few students came from Garissa County. The institution is well structured with all the facilities, but with no students because of lack of security. As we debate this amendment, we must condemn violence in our universities. For example, Moi University has been a peaceful public university. However, in recent times, it has become embroiled in ethnic challenges and conflicts. If the county governments could effectively deal with these issues, strikes and other challenges may be sorted out amicably. While we appreciate that the county governments must be brought on board in management of universities, they should not go overboard and assume responsibility of running universities. That is where we should be very clear as we amend the law to safeguard the institutions of high learning so that we also do not find ourselves in a conflict. When the amendment is brought, it will be very clear that there will be a liaison which will assist in the infrastructure development of those institutions. It does not devolve education. Again, we should not be in a situation where we find ourselves having challenges of lecturers in those universities. We must be very careful. We have a very good example of Moi University where the Vice Chancellor is being rejected because of ethnic inclinations. As we debate this Bill, we must protect these institutions. I thank Halima and her team for visiting Moi University. She understands the challenges--- 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."
}