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{
    "id": 958448,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/958448/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 109,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve continues to distinguish herself as the true and foremost champion for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs). For the short time that I have been in Parliament – this is my second term – I have not seen a Member representing the interest group that they have been nominated to represent as well as Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve. If we are talking about any topic, even agriculture, she will ask, “What about PWDs?” I want the entire community of interest in the country to know that, indeed, they have a true champion of their issues. Madam Temporary Speaker, I was recently a guest of honour at a function which I had been invited by Sen. Cherargei to support deaf children and their families. I learned with dismay that the cost of a cochlear implant ranges at between Kshs3 million to Kshs5 million per ear. These gadgets are not covered by insurance, and for those who are able to afford them, you could see the stories of a mother whose child hears for the first time, after years of deafness. That was very moving. When they have saved and sold everything to get an implant for one year, the emotions were really running high. Madam Temporary Speaker, during this month – I am grateful that Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve has brought our attention to it – I think that these are some of the things that the Committee on Health needs to question. They should question why such assistive devices to PWDs are still being charged duty, whether it is import or customs duty. We should do as much as possible to help PWDs. I keep saying that the strength of a country is what it does for its vulnerable population; and not by the size of its army or Central Bank. It is what it does for those in the society that cannot afford. This month, I would urge Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve to really push that fight for us to zero-rate these implants."
}