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{
    "id": 917372,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/917372/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 241,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, that is not a point of order, but a point of argument. It is wrong because I am talking about public health facilities that should have medicine that has been paid from the taxpayers. The medicine has been bought, but many doctors in cahoots with those who run pharmacies say that they are out of stock, yet the stocks are there, so that you can go and purchase it. It is actually an avenue of corruption in many cases, and I have seen this in my county. Many times, you will find that certain medicine, for instance, Amoxil, will be reported to be out of stock, but if you go out there, you can get the supplies. Many times, even beyond that, police stations should have photocopying machines, but if you go for P3 forms, you are told to go across the police station to get a photocopy. It is corruption that we have gotten used to that we even try to justify it. In the case where that medical supply or that particular drug is not in stock in our hospitals--- Kenyans should know it is a right and not a favour that our hospitals must be stocked with drugs. They should be available to them either cheaply or for free depending on the ailment. In case that drug is not available, that is when the pharmacy in the public hospital should ask you to go to a private chemist and can even specify which one. So, I stand firm on that point. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, my people in Nairobi are suffering because many of them cannot afford some of these drugs. They are being overcharged, yet these drugs should be available to them. We have passed huge budgets in this county. As the Senator for Nairobi City County, I am proud that the first time I came here we made sure that Kshs15.4 billion went to Nairobi City County Government. This year, we are talking about Kshs17 billion. You cannot tell me out of that Kshs17 billion, a Nairobian should be told to go and buy medicine from a private practitioner, when they have gone to a public facility that should be having that medicine. I completely disagree on that. It is immoral and an avenue through which corruption is setting in."
}