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{
    "id": 902678,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/902678/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 123,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Kamar",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 33,
        "legal_name": "Margaret Jepkoech Kamar",
        "slug": "margaret-kamar"
    },
    "content": "to think before they act. We wanted them to think because we did not want to arrive at this kind of scenario where students become victims of policy-makers who do not make decisions. We asked the Cabinet Secretary to be very sure that this is the way we will go. That is exactly what she said. We were satisfied and we left it at that. Now, there is a change. This House respects public participation, which the Ministry does not seem to recognize anymore. Public participation is embedded in our Constitution. We said that it was not just because of this training that we wanted public participation to be done. We even talked about it for the sake of the new programme that was coming up. It has been doing ping-pong the way this one is. We raised this because it is very important that one knows what Kenyans are feeling and want. We need to take care of that. Now, the victims we have today are young innocent students who were told that the qualifications for college has changed. It is not their fault. I assure this House that so long as we are in that Committee, we will do what is right and what must be done for them – not only to take care of them, if they will not go back to that college, there must be an alternative programme for them. We will not leave them in the streets after sending them to college for a month or two. It is very unfair. It is also very important that the Ministry change its approach when dealing with policies. It is true that for the last one year or so, we have seen policies being swayed up and down. It is very important that they embrace stakeholder participation because this will be exactly the same thing that has happened to teachers. We have heard of teachers who were sacked the other day just because they did not go for a function that they were supposed to. They did not go for a training programme. We discussed about the training with the Cabinet Secretary and we asked if the programme would be rolled out. She said it was not yet it was thereafter. Therefore, we also need to be very clear from this Ministry. We would like to agree with the Members who have spoken that we need to solve it once and for all. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I join you in welcoming the students who are in the Public Gallery. I congratulate the students from Our Lady of Consolata in Murang‟a County. They should work hard and make a mark in their lives. We wish them all the best and welcome them to the Senate."
}