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{
    "id": 679302,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/679302/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 362,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Odanga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2286,
        "legal_name": "Geoffrey Makokha Odanga",
        "slug": "geoffrey-makokha-odanga"
    },
    "content": "Like the rest of the Members, I want to congratulate you on your appointment to the Speaker’s Panel which task I know you are equal to. A chaplain is a religious minister or a priest who normally deals with religious needs in institutions such as prisons, schools, colleges or even in the armed forces. They provide spiritual nourishment to the members of those institutions. In the recent past, we have noted a lot of moral decadence among our youth both in schools and outside. We have seen many of our institutions go up in flames and a lot of money being lost. This has made parents and taxpayers of this country incur great loss. As we speak, over 100 institutions have been burnt and a lot of money has been lost. This will require parents and the Government to put up these facilities. We cannot allow this to continue because it is very expensive. That is why we would like the effort being made by guidance and counselling teachers in schools to be supplemented by chaplains who will reach out to our children and guide them on matters religious and spiritual. This will prevent the cases we see in our schools. Cases of terrorism are also on the rise across the country. This can be contained at a very early age when these children are still in school so that the sanctity of life becomes inculcated in them at the young age. National security, peace and stability are very vital for national development. In their absence, we cannot realise any development in this country. As it is today, stability in Kenya is threatened by sporadic terror attacks by militant groups. There are high levels and escalating incidences of terrorism in our schools and country. These cases could be arrested while children are still at this stage. Unfortunately, the number of youth joining radical groupings increases by the day and the Government has not yet found a solution to this problem. The Government has also not gone down to the root cause of the issues that are now affecting us in schools and in the country and address them. For that matter, we wish to have chaplains deployed in our schools to play the role of guiding and helping our children grow as responsible citizens who know that property is important. They should also know that human life is very important. The Bible, the Quran and all other religious books emphasise the sanctity of human life. They teach against alcohol, drug abuse and sexual orgies. All those are vices. Even our Constitution emphasises the national values of this country. These national values need to be taught to our children. Schools also need chaplains because the day-to-day teacher is already overloaded because we have very few teachers. At the end of the day, these teachers are very tired that they are not even able to provide enough services in the areas of guidance and counselling to our children in order to become better citizens. Chaplains will also provide the link between school administration and students to avert any issue that may rise since they are mature and well trained in their roles. They will also help to find solutions which in most cases the principals and teachers may not be able to provide because they are not well trained on those areas. Chaplains are likely to be very neutral because they will take care of all the interests; the welfare of students as well as those of teachers. Chaplains will also instill some reverence and fear in the Lord God because they will be teaching about the sanctity of life and all the virtues in the holy books. They will also assist parents who are too much preoccupied today with their day- to-day activities of raising money to pay fees and do all other activities that they are supposed to do. Most of the parents these days are not at home to guide their children, train them to be good citizens and to live by the virtues and values of our society. Chaplains will also bridge the 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."
}