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{
    "id": 812308,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/812308/?format=api",
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    "content": "anchored within the ambit of international jurisprudence. It is not that we cannot take action, but when we have fires everybody runs for themselves. For example, when President Mnangagwa faced the attack in Zimbabwe, even the security people forgot that they had a president to take care of. That is the human instinct. This National Disaster Authority should put in place mechanisms to ensure that we adhere to Articles (2), (5) and (6) of the Constitution. These articles are about our international obligations within the Community of Nations that persons with disabilities be the first to be evacuated and be settled in proper places when there are disasters. We all know when there are disasters; people with disabilities are most affected. Sometimes we do not see it from that prism. Why? This is because we are either preventing somebody from dying or preventing somebody from getting impairment. When we are talking about programmes that respond to disaster risk reduction, we must ensure that those makeshift structures are accessible and friendly to persons with disabilities. Therefore, we must ensure that we involve persons with disabilities in the process of coming up with interventions that speak to the specific needs of individuals who may be affected. We do not have to ask ourselves: What can we do when somebody becomes disabled? As I said, a disaster will always produce more people with disabilities. This is not a very positive thing, but we will continue championing their rights. Going forward, because of the encumbrances and difficulties that occur within a non-inclusive society, it would be important to ensure that we reduce these eventualities. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is a very good Bill. It is a Bill concerning counties. Of course, it is true to say that it is a money Bill; and I hope that it will not be caught up in the shenanigans of the contestation between the Senate and the National Assembly. We must have a consensus where Members of either House legislate on matters concerning the Nation. Considering all the disasters we have had in Solai, Gikomba, including those that are going to happen in future, if we delay, we are going to be doing a disservice to Kenyans. As it is very well said, justice delayed is justice denied. Many people are going to profit from the enactment of this legislation. I, therefore, call upon Senators to support this Bill. I am also calling on the clerks here and in the National Assembly who guide us on administrative procedures not to find contestations about this Bill for the sake of proving the point of which House is superior or inferior. We have to rise above those contestations so that we can deliver to Kenyans. Sometimes when we are here, we have the singular mandate of speaking, because we represent the voices of those who are unheard. We represent the families of individuals who are hurting as a result of losing their beloved through these disasters. We represent individuals who have lost their livelihoods and who have been reduced to beggars because of these disasters. If you look at the Solai Dam scenario, that is a human catastrophe of the highest order. Individuals were sleeping and had nothing to do with whatever was happening, then all of a sudden, they see their family being destroyed just like that. It could be us tomorrow. As we say in Kiswahili ‘Ajali hainakinga’ . Therefore, we have the responsibility of moving this country forward. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we are very respected in this region; Kenya is seen as a beacon of hope. Nonetheless, we are slowly but surely acquiring a very interesting 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."
}