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{
    "id": 784076,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/784076/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 270,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, since the advent of the South Africa constitutional process, I think the branch of human rights referred to as socio-economic has received a lot of support and recognition in constitutions of Africa. People say that the constitutions of Kenya and South Africa are the most progressive. Part of the reason our Constitution is considered so is because of Article 43. Very few countries, not even the United States of America, Britain, France and all other superpowers such as China have a provision in their constitutions that recognizes socio- economic rights. Such rights include the rights to food and housing. It makes Government to be positively obligated to ensure that the right is achieved. The Bill gives meaning and breathes life to Article 43. It operationalizes it by giving it direction as to how that can be achieved in a manner that can be audited. Governments can be held accountable through institutions created by this Bill and through provisions that explain the concepts that assist us to achieve what the right to food is all about. If you read Clause 5 of the Bill, you realize that the right to food includes the right to be free from hunger and to have adequate food of an acceptable quality. It is not just enough to have food. We have had situations in places such Turkana and Tiaty in Baringo County where people are boiling very dangerous herbs. They are boiled for 24 hours trying to make it possible to get something small that people can eat and survive with. It is very sad because for those of us who are from those places and pastoralist areas, there is a major contradiction in this country. In the pastoralist areas, one will find a large herd of livestock such as cows, goats and sheep. However, it is only for a particular period. When drought comes, all the livestock is wiped out and people suffer in hunger. When rain comes, it floods and the same animals are swept away. The people are, therefore, perpetually in danger because of the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. If you come to urban areas, you will find that many people go without a meal even for two days. Some people who live in slums such as Kibera, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Mukuru Kayaba, Mathare, Huruma in Eldoret, Kaptembwa in Nakuru, Kondele in Kisumu -I hope there is no slum in Kisii - have challenges accessing food. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the challenge of accessing food in urban areas is enormous. People staying in slum areas have no means of earning a living. They are not 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."
}