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{
    "id": 594353,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/594353/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 166,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Oyoo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2408,
        "legal_name": "James Onyango Oyoo",
        "slug": "james-onyango-oyoo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to speak to this important Bill, as fronted by my very good friend, Hon. Aghostinho Neto. I regretfully oppose this Bill in view of the fact that currently, Kenya is undergoing a serious economic crunch. Those in positions of responsibility have told us that the economy is not performing. One of the reasons they are giving is that there is bloated staffing. There is an intention to offload some public servants. This Bill is coming at a time when Kenya will be ill- prepared to absorb any new board. These new boards require medical practitioners and trainees, and all this will entail heavy expenditure. I believe that the intention and the idea were very good, but there could be another way of looking at this issue. There is a perception in this country that each time an initiative, a facility or a board fails, Kenyans rush to the option of creating a new one. When the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) cannot perform, you create an anti-corruption body that is ill-equipped and ill-financed. When it cannot perform, you come up with an ill-equipped, ill-staffed and ill-financed Ombudsman Office. This particular function is currently being undertaken by some staff in every hospital where there are medical record keepers. We could use the existing Medical and Dentists Practitioners Board, spruce it up, finance it properly, retrain its staff, equip it well and give it the powers to do proper oversight and improve facilities. It would be better than kick-starting a new board that will gobble a lot of money at a time when Kenya is ill-prepared for it. We are even contemplating downsizing the Civil Service. I believe that the intention was very good. However, I suggest that we make improvements to the existing structures, more so, through the Medical and Dentists Practitioners Board, and bring on board people who are qualified, recruit more staff, provide a better budget which will be minimal compared to what would be spent if a new board, like what has been suggested by my good friend Aghostinho Neto, is allowed. Hon. Aghostinho Neto has come up with a very good initiative. If it is left to go through it will make a difference and improve the lives of people. However, I regret that there are facilities and people in hospitals. I have seen in every hospital and health facility in my constituency a person called a “medical records keeper”. If it is the capacity that they are lacking, why do we not enhance their capacity by retraining them and equipping them with better facilities? The Bill does not say who these people will be reporting to. The people will be reporting to the same hospitals. They could be the same staff that we have in these hospitals, but we are now going to move them to a new board, to be headed by a CEO and other senior staff, who will be drawing allowances. This will not augur well for our economy. Even those who said, “ Kusema na Kutenda” now regrettably admit the economy is on its knees. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}