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{
    "id": 737007,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/737007/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 192,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Maanzo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2197,
        "legal_name": "Daniel Kitonga Maanzo",
        "slug": "daniel-kitonga-maanzo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I would like to support the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health on this matter as seconded by Dr. Nyikal. Mediation is very important. It is what makes the two Houses agree on matters which are very important to the nation. The matter has been very well deliberated. We have looked at sections of the law dealing with it as put in the notices and classes therein. It is good that health is harmonised in the country. You remember there is a proposal for the Office of Director-General for Health. Hon. Dr. Nyikal has just seconded this. He is very passionate about this because he has been in the health sector for long. I want to agree with what he as an expert advises us as a House. Though there are financial implications indicated, the health sector seems to be in disarray up to today. We are still groping in the dark as to what will harmonise the health sector. This is especially after devolution where some matters are being handled at the county level and other matters are being handled at the national level. There has been a lot of discontent with doctors in the manner in which some of them have been handled at the county levels. There is also discontent on the way matters have proceeded in many areas including the recent strike and the structure and mechanism of sorting out these issues. I believe that this law is meant to make health better for Kenyans. The new Constitution is here and devolution is a reality. So, we can only improve health services in the country by making sure that there are proper laws. The role of this House is well spelt out. There are many things which are not clear. How do counties procure medication? Many times, there are complaints that health centres or hospitals have no proper medication. What about this issue of hiring equipment at very exorbitant prices? Why can we not get donations? Why can we not buy our own equipment because there are budgets? What budgets do you handle at national level and what budgets do you handle at the devolved level? There have also been issues of corruption at the Ministry of Health. Currently, the United States of America has withdrawn or threatened to withdraw its funding on health in the country. This is especially in relation to HIV/AIDS and children. There are very many issues dealing with health. You need a law to harmonise those matters. You also need somebody responsible to deal with counties and at the same time the national level. That person should synchronise all the activities so that the people of Kenya can be treated well. Hon. Deputy Speaker, first of all, health being a very expensive affair we look forward to a day that Kenyans will get free medical services like many advanced countries in the world or countries in Africa that have utilised their resources well like Botswana. Those countries have mined their minerals and managed them very well. They have enough money and their citizens do not pay taxes. Their education and health care are free. As a country, we need to take up the challenge and invest in coal which is lying idle in Kitui. No one in the world is selling or buying it. We now have oil which we should exploit so 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."
}