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{
    "id": 651047,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/651047/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 341,
    "type": "other",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, language is critical. That is why sign language has become a critical component in our society. Whenever we are holding functions, we hire services of the interpreters. During the recent by-elections, I realized that some elderly persons were not able to read. So, I urge the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to think of ways of assisting them. They can provide them with reading glasses to help them make the right choices. We need to create awareness and understanding of the issues affecting persons with disabilities. I hope the President who is determined to see us, as a country to change some of our peculiar behaviours, is listening. Many at times, public procurement is done and equipment is supplied. However, instead of making proper use of it, we leave it to rot in the warehouses. It is sad that nobody takes responsibility of such equipment simply because it was procured using public resources. We may be surprised to learn that all these equipment are lying somewhere because we have not started dealing with children with special needs today. We need to come up with effective mechanisms to ensure that the available equipment and those that will be purchased are sent to the right institutions to be used by persons living with disabilities. I have realized that we have weaknesses in our follow up and monitoring mechanisms. I hope that we, as legislators, will go to stores to inspect what has been left to rot there. We need to shame people who misuse or mismanage public resources. After the equipment has been purchased, no one cares how it is used or maintained. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we need to deal with the issue of wastage in our country. We need to get value for the Kenyan taxpayer’s money. We should also not take advantage when tendering to make provisions in our building facilities for persons with disabilities, for instance, overpricing the cost of constructing ramps. In a country like the United States of America (USA), when an architect designs a building, before it is approved for construction, he or she must prove that it can be accessed by persons living with disabilities. When you also visit some countries in Europe, you will notice that they have fixed facilities on their roads to alert the blind people when to cross the road. They do not rely on other people to assist them to cross the road. I beg to move and ask Sen. Omondi to second this Bill because it will go a long a way to support many others like her."
}