Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 671950,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/671950/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Chairperson, Sir, I thank you for the opportunity. As I was driving here, I listened very carefully to the most unconvincing arguments by the Senate Majority Chief Whip about the amendments. I have had the opportunity to listen to the distinguished Senator for Bomet, a medical doctor himself; Sen. (Dr.) Machage, a distinguished medical doctor and the distinguished nominated Senator from Kilifi, who in her earlier background, was a distinguished nurse. We must be careful. We should not acquiesce to clawing back the benefits and gains of devolution; we should be strengthening devolution. Where there are challenges, we must tackle them. Pulling back is not solving a problem. In the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution health is devolved to the extent that the national Government is only left with national referral hospitals, which are only five in the country. We have the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Mathare Mental Hospital, Spinal Injury, Port Ritz. Those are the only national referral facilities left for the national Government. The national Government can, if it wishes, create more referral hospitals at the national level out there in the counties and regions. But to try and claw back, in the manner that the Bill is drafted, is wrong and does not help in strengthening devolution. We need to support the Committee. The reason we go to Committees is to give them an opportunity for an in-depth and incisive look at the Bill and assist the House. The Committee has brought convincing amendments, which I fully support. Under Article 96 of the Constitution, we are the defenders and protectors of counties and county 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"
}