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{
    "id": 984098,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/984098/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 137,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "must continue producing. We must continue to provide opportunities for farmers to deliver the food to the places that it is required. I, therefore, request that a stimulus package be directed to farmers to ensure that they produce cheap food that will serve as many Kenyans as possible. I also suggest that we must hire more doctors and nurses. This issue is going to give us a big problem in hiring medical personnel. The resources that have been set aside for this emergency should go towards hiring more medical personnel even if it means having them on contract for two or three years. The Government should find ways of expeditiously graduating all medical students who are in their final year so that they can go to the field to help as many people as possible. We must also think about establishing field medical centers like the ones we saw in Nigeria where they have converted stadiums to field medical centers. We should have at least four field medical centers in Nairobi to deal with this situation. We can set up the field medical centers at Kasarani, Nyayo, City and Camp Toyoyo stadiums or any other places that will be designated by the relevant Committee. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we must also find ways of incorporating matters of mental health. Many people are suffering as a result of being told that they are going to be confined in one space in the house. Some people did not have good relationships with their spouses while some are wondering what will happen to their children when the food that they have is finished. Psychosocial support must be ingrained in this venture. Tax exemption should be visited upon all those who are producing essential goods and services so that they can reach people in a cheaper way. Like Sen. Cheruiyot mentioned earlier, we would like to ensure that the communication that goes to the public from Parliament is joint and accurate. However, it is not the time to suspend human rights. We are not suspending human rights or freedom to communicate. One Member of Parliament (MP) was invited to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation to record a statement for postulating that the number of COVID- 19 patients could reach 10,000 by May. The next day, the Ministry of Health announced that the number of COVID-19 patients could reach 10,000 by May. I wonder if the MP had a leakage of the projections by the Ministry of Health statistics on COVID-19 patients or he is just good with statistics. The MP should be incorporated in the national emergency team. Mr. Speaker, Sir, people should be allowed to communicate. We accept that there will be misinformation. However, people should be allowed to talk. If we are going to be scared, maybe we will be scared enough to stick to our houses and follow the procedures that are required. In the field of communication, civic education must be increased. When I called my village today, I was informed that people are still doing handshakes, socializing and drinking busaa. Many locals in my village are terming this quarantine period as a holiday for drinking busaa. They are oblivious of the dangers that come with the COVID-19. We must do civic education. The county administration also must take advantage of its structurers to the village level to ensure communication reaches us. Many people are responsible to ensure that we deal with this disease."
}