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{
    "id": 983923,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/983923/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 288,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, at this point, we should be talking about the proposal that was given on cashless transactions by the Government. How are we going to sit down with Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Ukur Yatani and the Central Bank to agree on how to effect these cashless transactions for the next one month? That is the work of the Senate. That is what we need to be talking about. Regarding cushioning the poor in the informal settlements, Nairobians cannot have the luxury of having social distancing in markets and bus stations. If you go to Kencom right now, you will see what I am talking about. Here, we should be talking about how we will address these issues. The Committee on Roads and Transportation should be talking to Kenya Ferry Services, commuters and the operators of matatus on what they are doing; we should not go on a break. This is not the time to go on a break. Madam Temporary Speaker, we must give Kenyans confidence and tell them the truth. Statistically, the cases will go up. We have only just got four cases. In fact, when we come back from these two weeks, there will be more cases of COVID-19. That is the time we should be going and not now. We should be going then, when we have already set down measures, accountability mechanisms and a reporting mechanism by the Ministry. After we have looked at these economic issues and social issues, then we can say, now we can break for two weeks because the cases have reached 100 or 50. On Saturday we are going to be praying for this country that the cases do not go up. Statistically, you cannot reinvent this thing. It is bound to happen. The 23 people who came from the plane and were quarantined, have fortunately tested negative. However, we must face reality. The reason why Kenyans are saying that Sen. Mutahi Kagwe is doing a good job, is because he is being honest; he is communicating. Panic - like what we are doing today - is when you act without sufficient information. How then will we get information on behalf of Kenyans while we are on recess? Madam Temporary Speaker, I know that possibly, I will be the only one on record to oppose this Motion because everyone is supporting and will vote for it, but I still think this is not the right move to make. It is a move made out of panic. Let us have Kenyans who are not delivering essential services to work from home. We cannot legislate from home. We cannot come up with intervention measures for this country from home. We cannot talk about how to cushion the poor people in different parts of this country from home. Kenyans need us now. A General does not run away at the time of war. A Captain is not the first to leave when the boat is sinking. That is the time he helps everybody else get out of the boat when the boat is about to sink. We can talk about the measures taken in the House of Commons and the Congress that is restricting visitors and close the catering unit in the Senate. For instance, I have given the officers in my office shifts so that they do not come to work. Right now, I have skeleton staff, the very essential that I need; maybe a driver and my personal assistant. That is enough. We are here on behalf of Kenyans. For example, if you are not here Sen. Olekina, who will the people of Narok ask questions? If you go to Narok without information, are you adding to the solution or the problem? I oppose. Thank you. 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."
}