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{
"id": 826103,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/826103/?format=api",
"text_counter": 280,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13165,
"legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
"slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
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"content": "Therefore, I learnt from a very early age, although it was not the right set of education, that there is a special need for this group of children. However, as a country, we have not grown in our sophistication to the level that we can propose proper solutions and ways of taking care of them. We should know that they are not poor to understand. We should avoid the kind of attitude that we normally show them. We should understand that God gifted them separately from what we consider to be normal. Madam Temporary Speaker, a living example is Richard Branson, one of the most successful British business icons who grew up as dyslexic child. He is the type of child whom in Africa, we consider not to have the proper brain capacity. Therefore, we do not train or give them proper kind of education. However, because Britain had advanced in matters of taking care of children with special needs, he went through school up to the level that his brain capacity could support. After that, he was given specific training that enabled him to communicate and take care of his own business. As we speak today, he is one of the most celebrated entrepreneurs in the whole world. Madam Temporary Speaker, it leaves me wondering how many Richard Bransons we have in Kenya that are not able to live their lives to the full potential because we have not matured as a country, to take care of children with these kinds of needs. Therefore, Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve, it is my deepest believe that you are in this Senate for an extremely specific purpose. Please run in the path that you have chosen. Bring Bills to this House that will enable the country to realize that we need to advance and progress. For example, we need proper schools. I know this because in the county that I represent in this House, there are number of schools for children with special needs. However, when you visit them, you understand that we need an attitude change as leaders and managers of these institutions. The most dilapidated institutions in any county, even the County of Nairobi, are schools that take care of children with special needs because of lack of understanding. Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve has only picked a specific segment of how we communicate. I believe that later on, she will propose to us better ways of taking care of the holistic life of children and adults with specific needs, for example, how they are able to access education in a way that does not disenfranchise them so that they can live to achieve their full potential. Therefore, I congratulate her. She has my 101 per cent support. We should set the bar higher. The children that shall live thereafter the passage of that law will enjoy the fruits of the good work that she would have done. Madam Temporary Speaker, Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) classrooms are built by our county government. However, out of 100,200 or 300 that are build, how many county governments have set aside particular classrooms for children with special needs? I am yet to hear of any. Therefore, it is important that we speak about these issues so that we learn and become better managers of public resources. Madam Temporary Speaker, in conclusion, I take this opportunity to pass my condolences to one of our colleagues, Sen. Mohammed Faki, Senator 001 of Mombasa County, who has lost his son this afternoon. As his colleagues, we pass our heartfelt condolences to him and his family. We pray to God to give them strength as they mourn him. I want to request Senators who will be in Mombasa tomorrow to attend his burial. More details of the burial will be communicated in due course. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}