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"id": 849591,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/849591/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wako",
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"speaker": {
"id": 366,
"legal_name": "Amos Sitswila Wako",
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"content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, what has happened and still obtains is that the Government has not come up with a system of paying, not only the amount payable as per this Motion, but also under a judgment in a civil matter. You will find today, for instance, there are high amounts of bills being paid. Part of the reason at that time, was that Ministries did not budget to pay decrees which had been obtained against the Government, including what we are now discussing. It was presumed that when judgment arose, then the Ministry concerned would write to the National Treasury for payment to be effected. Whereas at one time the National Treasury used to pay, it came a time when the Government was in difficulty paying even legitimate claims. Therefore, it has been a heavy debt burden on the part of Government to pay decrees and judgments obtained against it. These payments include those that we are debating in this particular Motion. Madam Temporary Speaker, what is being mentioned in this Motion is even more serious, because it touches on the lives of people. Somebody has been killed by an animal, judgment has been obtained and even if it has not been obtained, the type of compensation that is supposed to be administered is under our laws but payment has not been done. This creates a non-conducive environment for peaceful co-existence between man and wildlife. Without peaceful co-existence, we cannot preserve our animals which are a valuable asset to this nation. I am glad that the Mover of this Motion has mentioned moving stories about his area, which has been badly affected by this type of situation. Therefore, there is no peaceful coexistence between man and wildlife. If we have to borrow a leaf from those who have taken the policy, or where there is peaceful co-existence between man and wildlife, then we will be getting somewhere. If we borrow that experience, what comes out clearly is not just payment, but prompt payment once a person has been injured. There is also need for prompt treatment of people who have suffered from the activities of wildlife, particularly those communities which surround them. Madam Temporary Speaker, I am a great fan of watching either National Geographic or Animal Planet on television. I have taken keen interest in wildlife, because when you know how they live; you will find that we human beings at times overrate ourselves. They are just like human beings. In order to preserve and have a beautiful environment, a peaceful co-existence between the animals and respect for each other is necessary. That respect for each other can only come about when there is respect for the human being who lives close to it and who has been injured as a result of that conflict. I have watched, for example, programmes on man versus animals. I have watched programmes on snakes and as you are aware, they live even in towns. You will find in India and other places, many types of snakes including cobras. You will also find many people who have died as a result of snake bites. In those areas, they have put in place measures to ensure that if a snake bites somebody, there is immediate treatment, whereas here, I know in some areas if a snake bites and you approach a health centre, you cannot get treatment because it is not there. By the time you get to a medical facility, like in Eldoret for treatment, you are already dead because some of the snakes are very poisonous. 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."
}