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"id": 612166,
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"speaker_name": "Hon. Sakaja",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13131,
"legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
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"content": "13 Wednesday 2nd December, 2015(A) is not something that you are given, but something that cannot be taken away from you as a citizen of this country. Economic and social rights are really important as well. These include the right to the highest sustainable quality of healthcare, the right to property, housing, food and clean and safe water. More importantly is what we call group rights that are clearly enunciated in this policy. Those are the rights of vulnerable groups, such as women, youth, children, persons living with disabilities (PLWDs), older persons, marginalised and minority groups. I chair a committee of both Houses on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity. One thing we have realised in our Committee, and why we are focused on equal opportunities, is that unless we equalise opportunities for every Kenyan wherever they are, we cannot attain cohesion in our country. Every Kenyan wants the same thing, to go about their life peacefully and to make something for themselves. All Kenyans, wherever they are in this country, must feel equal citizens to other Kenyans. That is why this is one of those sessional papers that we feel very strongly must be quickly translated into very specific legislation that we will bring to this House. We have proposed some legislation for the youth. I have sponsored two Bills that have passed. I thank Hon. Members of this House. However, we need to start implementing these Bills. We are also bringing amendments to the Disability Act to make sure that PLWDs in this country have appropriate access to infrastructure and facilities, especially in the public space. I will give an example of the Americans Disabilities Act that is very specific, even on the width of the door of a bus, so that when someone is being wheeled in on a wheelchair they can go in easily. It should also be specific on things such as ramps on our pavements, so that every Kenyan, regardless of their station in life or their physical ability or lack of it, can access services. We have gone round this country and seen various areas, especially the pastoralist and far-flung areas. Hon. Chachu Ganya has mentioned his area. He comes from a constituency that is 38,000 square kilometres. His constituency is the size of Central Province, Nyanza Province, Western Province and six provinces the size of Nairobi combined. But since Independence, it has not had a single inch of tarmac. Unless the people in North Horr feel as Kenyans, as the people in Nairobi, we can never attain cohesion. Therefore, I want to persuade this House to quickly translate this Action Plan on Human Rights into specific legislation, whether it is on cohesion or corruption, as Hon. Chris Wamalwa has said, or dealing with representation of women. I would like to reiterate that we must support the two-thirds gender rule in this House, so that women can also get equal representation. Only then will we be able to get cohesion in our country. I support the Motion."
}