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{
    "id": 645107,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/645107/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 130,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. A.B. Duale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": "I would like to ask Members that as we debate this, we should do whatever it takes to conclude the Second Reading of this Bill because it is important to the nation. It touches on an important segment of our society which is important to the athletes. Doping is the use of prohibited substances and methods to gain unfair advantage over fellow competitors mainly in sport. They are known as medicines used by sportsmen to enhance their performances and to enable them to win where they could have lost. It has become common knowledge that there is a lot of money to be won in sports, for instance, I am a fan of Manchester United Club but I will take an example of Man City Football Club where players earn between Kshs5 and 10 million a week which translates to about Kshs20 to 70 million a month. Our country is known for the marathoners who earn a minimum of Kshs5 million as a prize after two- and-a-half hours of running, and Kshs10 million for endorsement annually. This economy is important to our country. Doping is not only unique to Kenya but it is a worldwide problem and that is why this law was created. Currently, one of the very famous tennis players, Maria Sharapova tested positive for a prohibited substance. Along that side, 27 Russian athletes who were swimmers and race walkers tested positive last week. Investigative reports conducted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Russia established the existence of a systematic doping in that country to such a magnitude and level that Russia was banned from participating in Rio de Janeiro Olympics in June this year. Kenya is a renowned sporting country and the supremacy of Kenyan athletes dates back to 1960. Since then, Kenya has excelled in boxing, volleyball, weight lifting and many other sporting activities. Many young Kenyans are engaged in sport at school, college and club levels. In all this, there is the necessity for Kenya to join the rest of the world in making sure that we sign and pass this law. The entire world, Kenya included is keen to see that those participating in sport do so in a clean way. To this end, Kenya is a signatory to various international instruments like the Luciano Declaration that set up (WADA), in August, 2009. Kenya ratified the 2005 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) International Convention Against Doping in Sport and last year, Kenya was elected to the position of the Vice-President of the Convention Conference of Parties. This Bill deals with substances and methods prohibited in sports. These are mainly normal medications and substances for treating well known diseases. I would like to highlight salient issues in this Bill. Unfortunately, the only renowned marathoner and athlete, the Member for Cherangani is not in the House. I am sure that there are Members of Parliament who are great runners in their constituencies. If you are not here and your constituency produces great runners, then you do not want to pass. I come from the desert. There is nobody from my constituency who got a medal but I am proud of the Kenyans who got them on our behalf. I expected my friends from the Rift Valley to be full of pride. I have seen a number of them. This is a great piece of legislation. You saw the President yesterday showing the way. He had breakfast with the marathoners who won in Paris. I am sure our colleague is in Boston. Kenya is known for that. We are known for the good and for the bad. As banks are collapsing, we must make a law that is for those men and women who, when we watch television every night, get number one to number seven. I am sure there are many people in the world today who are waiting for Kenya not to beat this deadline. There are men and women in sports who get position 10 and 11. So, once Kenya is out of the race, then they can be in position one and two. However, I am sure this House is up to the task. Please let us finish the Second Reading. I ask the Speaker, who is the Chair of the House Business Committee, to allow the Bill to be fast- 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."
}