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{
    "id": 988490,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/988490/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 68,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 171,
        "legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
        "slug": "george-khaniri"
    },
    "content": "Having said that, let me state that the common mwananchi has not felt the Government support. I speak so for Vihiga, a county that I represent in this Senate. I know that the same story goes for most counties. Various leaders have tried to offer food aid and sanitation material to their constituents, but honestly, this is not sustainable. It is a tall order for an individual to feed the whole constituency or county for a week, let alone months. The small food donations can only last a day or two. Also recognizing the danger posed by the logistics of distribution of food, like observing social distance, possibility of people scrambling for the aid and the indignity that comes with the process of queuing up with a begging bowl, means that the Government needs to do better than it is doing at the moment. Mr. Speaker, Sir, reports from the National Treasury that the Government has spent Kshs40 billion during this pandemic are inconceivable to most Kenyans, as the impact of the money has not been felt. A total of Kshs40 billion is such a colossal amount that the impact would be felt everywhere. To relate, from mandatory quarantine to testing, facemasks, hand sanitizers, evacuation of distressed Kenyans from China and other parts of the world and food are all at individual cost. County governments have also claimed that they have not received any monetary support. We should also keep in mind the fact that various donors have made huge donations. Where exactly is this money? Mr. Speaker, Sir, it would be very unfortunate for Government officials to take advantage of the current situation to divert resources meant to fight COVID-19 into their pockets. Transparency and accountability is key to protect public funds during this time. The national and county legislatures should be alive to the fact that oversight on the executive must be undertaken. As much as the calendar of Parliament has been affected, the vigilance should not be affected. As has been observed, one of the weak links at the moment are the police officers, especially in the enforcement of Government directives, from curfew to isolation of certain counties and even precautions such as wearing facemasks. In their usual modusoperandi, some overzealous officers are doing more damage than good in this war. Some are also exploiting the current situation to collect bribes and cause pain, injury and death to the population. Depending on how much one is willing to pay, all the Government directives can be suspended including buying freedom from quarantine as has been witnessed in the last few days. Kenyans are so fearful of the police that if unfortunately, a family member needs urgent medical attention at night, the person is most likely to die in the house as no one is willing to risk meeting the police during the curfew. This should never be the case. If anything the police should be the ones at the forefront in saving such lives. This is sad. The Government needs to get rid of such elements from the National Police Service (NPS). Some police officers have been reported to knowingly and unapologetically harass essential service providers such as doctors. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) should expedite investigations into reports of police brutality and ensure action is taken. This should not be limited to interdiction from the service, but also prosecution. The only way to reform the NPS is by individual conviction of police officers who abuse their power and 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."
}