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{
    "id": 813222,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/813222/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 221,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13188,
        "legal_name": "Getrude Musuruve Inimah",
        "slug": "getrude-musuruve-inimah"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this important Motion. Mental health is very important. The Big Four Agenda cannot be achieved if the citizens of this nation are not mentally healthy. Even the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that every nation is fronting aim at ensuring the wellbeing of every person in the world. As a country, we have to anchor our developments on the SDGs. I am saying this because, as a nation, we do not want to be left behind. Just as other nations are concerned about the well being of their citizens, this nation should also be concerned about the mental well being of its citizens. When we talk of mental health, we are looking at a situation where someone is physically and mentally stable to do whatever they are supposed to in this Republic, so that we add to the development of this country. I commend the two Senators who have come up with this Motion, that is, Sen. Chebeni and Sen. Kasanga. They say clearly that the Mental Health Act was enacted in 1991. After 1991 there has not been a council that is mandated to carry out the functions of the board. It means that this board is a toothless bulldog. It does not have the teeth to perform its functions. Mental health is a county issue because counties are supposed to provide the ambulances, health facilities and medics. This Motion is very relevant to this House. As Senators, we have to be keen to find out what exactly is happening in the counties. Are counties doing anything to ensure that Kenyans are mentally healthy? The Senators have clearly said there are only 88 psychiatrists and 427 nurses qualified in this area. This is a very serious statement; that a nation like Kenya with a population of over 40 million has only 88 psychiatrists and 427 nurses who are qualified. There is need for the Government to be serious in order to achieve one of the Big Four Agenda items, which is health. Mental health affects the lives of Kenyans. If this situation is not arrested or addressed we will have many people getting into depression because of the mental illness. The Motion also says that one in every four Kenyans suffers from depression, which is a statement we cannot take for granted. Also, four out five suicide cases are caused by depression. Life is important. Article 26 of the Constitution is clear that every citizen has a right to life. There is need for us to anchor whatever we do to the Constitution. It is important for governors to take seriously the issue of health and ensure that they devolve the services, so that they reach the common man. We have been elected for the purpose of serving the citizens of this country. That demands that we commit to the work we do. All the issues that we bring to the Floor of this House are not issue we can joke with. They are serious issues that affect the citizens of this country and the Government should ensure that they are sorted out. We have been employed for the purpose of bringing these issues to the Floor of this House and ensuring that the Government implements them. This will ensure that devolution serves the common man. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have different kinds of depression. Depression can be arrested in good time before we end up having suicide cases or walking zombies. 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."
}