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{
    "id": 917423,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/917423/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 292,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Ali",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. The problem with the Senate is that we pass very good amendments, and when it goes to the other side, it is shelved or things are changed. These amendments are good. The county government is the main customer of KEMSA. However, the national Government wants to stick back to it and handle it like their baby, which is a very big mistake. Yesterday, the Committee of Health went to Laikipia County, where there was a problem. We were told that 61 doctors were sacked. When we asked the Governor what happened, he told us that they left their job: “They were away for 21 days and I sacked them.” That is the attitude of some of the governors, which is unfortunate and wrong. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is the same case with some of the Senators in this House. Look at this House now, it is almost empty. We have a problem. Senators just want to be seen up to 4.00 p.m., when they can be seen on the television. They do not want to come and contribute to issues which are devolution-oriented. Issues about health and KEMSA are mainly about devolution. We are killing devolution ourselves, and yet we are supposed to protect it. This is a very unfortunate thing. Everywhere you go, you will find unions fighting counties when it comes to health issues and the counties do not respond in the right way. The national Government does not want to let go of health, despite the fact that it is a devolved function. There is this tug of war, whose end result will cause a lot of problems in the counties. Some few days ago, it was Kirinyaga; now it is Laikipia and I am told Kisumu also has a problem. It will eventually go to every county. How are we going to deal with these things? These are not only labour issues. Sometimes when we talk to the doctors, they have genuine concerns. When some hon. Members here say that if counties do not have supply of medicines, then a doctor prescribes medicine and tells his patients to go and buy it from outside, then that becomes a crime. Where will they direct these patients? We should not always associate everything with corruption or bad intentions. A doctor has no alternative. A doctor’s job is to look at this patient, see what he or she requires and write a prescription. It is the responsibility of the county government to buy and stock medicine in hospitals. There are issues which are for the doctors and others for the county governments. As far as I am concerned, when you look at both sides, they are all guilty. As I said in the beginning, KEMSA is supposed to be dealing with counties. Some counties buy theirs supplies from KEMSA quarterly, who supply what they have. Counties then buy what they do not get from KEMSA from outside. It is sad that the national Government wants to keep everything. If you check the health budget for all the counties combined, they are given Kshs3 billion while the national Government’s 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."
}