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{
    "id": 905128,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/905128/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 249,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "This reminds us of Article 174 of the Constitution which says that the function of devolution is basically to provide a framework within which national functions are to be performed at the local level. Therefore, for us to identify the persons we want to reach out to, let us use the lowest unit. For that purpose, the constitutional lowest unit is the ward. So, we need to ask ourselves whether we can have a ward officer at the county level who deals with only street families and children so that we identify where the families came from, what made them go to the streets, what interventions can we put in place and if we have a way of getting funds. Is it possible to give them money to do the business they were doing? Some of them found themselves in the street because the house they were living in Kibera, Majengo and Mathare was burnt. So, they decided to live on handouts in town where people pass and where there is lighting to ensure security. Madam Temporary Speaker, I found it dangerous to see small girls and boys in the streets. This is because they are vulnerable when it comes to sexual molestation, harassment and rape. I saw a video that was very disturbing about a girl who was raped by many street boys somewhere on River Road. These people deserve protection and care. We must get a clear policy on who does it and at what level. That policy should cascade to the local level. If we reach the wards and think that locations and sub locations will be useful, then we can use it further. When we have these statistics, we can have the necessary interventions. These reports must be tabled to see how funds are allocated and utilized by the Trust Fund. Recently, the Trust Fund appointed a Chairperson; Hon. Linah Kilimo, who is my former Member of Parliament. It is good to have a person with motherly instincts to be in that institution but for them to do their work--- If you want to appoint any person to a street children‟s board in this country, they will tell you that it does not have money. It does not have a budget; it does not have an opportunity to cut deals or you cannot do business with them. However, these are the areas you can have a great impact in people‟s lives. The book of Matthew talks about Jesus speaking to his disciples and a crowd of people. It talks about who will go to Heaven. Jesus answers them by saying: “I was sick you came and saw me; I was hungry, you gave me food; I was in prison you visited me. I did not have clothes, you clothed me.” These are the things that change the lives of the most needy and vulnerable directly. Therefore, if we must show that we are a caring Government, let us show by the budget we defray to these institutions. If we do not allocate adequate resources to do proper intervention, then we are paying lip service to this very important responsibility of taking care of the weak and vulnerable. It is a measure of how a government, a country, and a leader can be measured to be a caring leader. It is how you take care of the weak and the vulnerable. Madam Temporary Speaker, I support this Motion. I hope that based on this Motion, we will move forward with the relevant Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, working together with the Mover of this Motion, to get in touch with the Trust Fund and all the other stakeholders, do an audit and table a report in this House so that then we can ask ourselves if we need to amend the law to capture the changing times, the changing constitutional order and the role of county governments. We will be able to hold county governments accountable based on what they do with this very important function. 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."
}