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{
    "id": 790552,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/790552/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 33,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Mumo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 808,
        "legal_name": "Rose Museo Mumo",
        "slug": "rose-museo-mumo"
    },
    "content": "As a society and leaders, we must look for solutions after assessing the root causes of fights and killings especially between people who have loved each other as husband and wife, parent and children. Mental illness is real in Kenya and we need to address it. It is a fact that work-related stress and high cost of living induce mental problems leading to suicidal tendencies which result to domestic violence. This Motion calls for urgent intervention to arrest the worrying trend. Let us not wait until it is too late. An example is a case in the USA where there were shootings in a school. It was shocking. Somebody walks into a school or a kindergarten and decides to shoot at the children. You also find a gunman killing 58 people in a concert. That is worrying. We should not wait until Kenya gets to that level when we know we can intervene. I believe there is a strong relationship between mental health and unstable dysfunctional families. That is why our society must not stigmatise mentally ill Kenyans. Parents must also learn to recognise early warnings in their children especially those in teenage years. I urge Kenyans from all walks of life to always seek counselling services whenever faced with stress emanating from work, finances or marital issues. On the other hand, I strongly appeal to the Government and other key stakeholders to set up counselling centres in every county and if possible, in every ward, so that we can reach every mwananchi . There is no reason why local leaders cannot be trained to identify mental illnesses and counsel the local populace. The Government should intervene and train leaders including pastors, teachers, church leaders, priests, chiefs and social workers. As I conclude, I appeal to fellow legislators to initiate programmes and establish centres at county and sub-county levels that will identify persons who need counselling to avoid such tragic incidents. As the saying goes, “a stitch in time saves nine.”"
}