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{
"id": 960423,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/960423/?format=api",
"text_counter": 234,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
"slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
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"content": "Secondly, when some of these heroes come back home after serving in their mission, especially in AMISOM in Somalia, they should also be taken care of, so that it does not become a psychiatric problem in their lives. As we talk about counseling, I know that the Government offers support services of monitoring. However, part of the stress that Kenyans undergo is because of hard economic times. Therefore, as we counsel the soldiers and their families, the Government should also provide monetary support to them. We are happy that we now have an insurance cover for the police and other disciplined forces, such that when they die in the line of duty, the health insurance cover is provided to their families. I would like to propose something, and I hope the Mover of the Motion will be able to check the HANSARD. With regard to the soldiers who have died in line of duty, fighting the terror that would have caused havoc in this country, the Government should provide a system of ensuring that their children are put on a bursary programme until they reach university or college level. Even if we counsel the spouses and their children, without monetary support, the vicious cycle of poverty will continue. Counseling should be made part of the health cover. In the United States of America and other countries, they have a specific docket that deals with the welfare issues of the veteran soldiers. Therefore, as we provide for the health cover while in active duty, that cover should extend at least to their immediate families. Counseling should be part of the cover, through the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) card, so that the families can go to any hospital, be it Kenyatta National Hospital or Kapsabet Hospital and be given counseling service. That is a critical issue that we need to look at. We also need to ensure that even as we send officers to missions, for example, AMISOM, we should also ensure counseling services are taken there. The Kenyan Government, through the Ministry of Defence, should establish a counseling and trauma centre. I know that it is already there, but it should be more active so that it can help them while they undergo their programme in Somalia. Most of us are sure that we will go back home, but by the time soldiers wake up, they are not sure of reaching midday or evening. Therefore, let us have more active and rigorous established trauma and counseling centres, especially when our soldiers go for peace keeping missions across the world. Madam Temporary Speaker, we celebrate our soldiers who protect our country, properties, lives of Kenyans and the tourism industry. I know that with time, we will defeat the terrorism that is ravaging across our borders and the world as a whole. I would like to tell our solders in Somalia, where they are trying to bring peace; or in Lamu, where they are protecting our boundaries, that they have the unequivocal support of the Senate. We will continue to pray for them, so that they continue to be our heroes."
}