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{
    "id": 807670,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/807670/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 158,
    "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. Speaker, Sir, I would like to congratulate the Senator for Vihiga, hon. George Khaniri, who is also a Commissioner, for a very well thought-out Statement. Health is an important sector and particularly for the Senate because we have a responsibility to intervene in areas that touch on counties, putting great focus on Part 2 of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution. Health is integral just like agriculture and a few other sectors that have been devolved. Health is almost 90 per cent devolved to the counties except policy which still lies at the national level and the two referral hospitals. I congratulate the Senator because he captured the vision and purpose for which health sector should be managed. I agree with him that the question of doctors from Cuba is such an important policy position. We laud the national Government and congratulate the President and the Ministry of Health for leading a team, including governors led by Gov. (Dr.) Kuti and Gov. (Prof.) Anyang'-Nyong'o, who went to Cuba to negotiate the deal to bring in the doctors to improve our health sector. There is something that saddens me. Many major policy positions and decisions, particularly touching on counties, are being made without reference to this House. This House has never debated anything about any agreement on health; whether devolution of health function or the place of referral hospitals and Sen. Khaniri has captured that well. I think governors have abdicated their responsibilities because the law is so clear that every decision that is to be made by the CoG on policy position must be debated in this House. A few weeks ago, I said that every policy decision that is made by the national Government touching on county functions; whether via agreement or law, it is must be brought to this House. I was part and parcel of the people who drafted the Intergovernmental Relations Act and it is mandatory that this House debates those policy positions. I do not know how many Senators in this House – I have been asking my colleagues in this House whether they understand the details of what that arrangement is all about. I do not understand it and I do not know how many Senators understand. In fact, I fault Sen. Khaniri for standing here and saying “Oparanya Care.” What is “Oparanya Care” when we all know of county governments and the national Government? We do not believe that there is “Malalah Care” and “Oparanya Care”. In this House, we only recognize county governments and the national Government. We do not believe that there is “Malalah Care” and “Oparanya Care”. We only believe that 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."
}