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{
    "id": 990653,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/990653/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 213,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba South, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Mbadi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Leader of the Majority Party for coming up with this Motion. Kenya, like any other nation in the world, is facing tough times. We all know that managing and controlling this pandemic is not easy. We are working hard, but this is a pandemic and not an epidemic. We are confronted with a number of challenges which we must deal with. There is the health crisis, which we are all aware of. We also have issues of social intervention and humanitarian issues, but above all, even if we manage to control this disease, the economic challenges will live with us for quite a bit of time. Therefore, this is a time that, as a country, we must speak within ourselves and look inwards for solutions to our problems based on our environment and circumstances. Let me start by talking about the health issues because they are the most critical and immediate ones. Whereas I would start by appreciating the work of the Executive, the Ministry and the President in trying to manage this pandemic, we must also tell the Government in no uncertain terms that their reaction and response has been wanting in a number of ways. The Government has been talking to us because we are looking for an exit strategy. We have to get out of this pandemic in one way or the other. For us to get an exit strategy, the Executive, the Government and the Ministry must lead the initiative. We support and we appreciate the daily reports about the numbers, but we need explanations. We were told that this country has capacity to test between 30,000 and 37,000 people in a day. As we speak, the highest number of people that have been tested is just over 1,000 in a day. What is the reason? What is the justification? What is the explanation? This is not forthcoming. We want to tell the Ministry that they must step forward and escalate the testing. What they have been saying is good, but it is not good enough. They must speak with us and tell us for how long we are going to see the numbers of 22, 25 and 45. What is the game plan? Every country in the world has a game plan. The Government must be serious about mass testing. If there are no resources, provide them. It is disheartening to look at the Budget Estimates and see it being taken as business as usual. There are no clear provisions for resources to fight this pandemic. Why is the Government of Kenya taking Kenyans for a ride? For how long are we going to wait for this Government to behave normally? They are the ones who are telling us not to behave normally because the disease is going to treat us abnormally. It is the Government that is behaving normally and the disease is behaving abnormally. So, we are waiting for clear Government intervention in terms of resource allocation. I would tell you that if you look at the Budget Estimates that were tabled here last week, you will find that the amount that is directly linked to COVID-19 is Kshs2.6 billion in a Budget of trillions of shillings. Something is happening in this country that needs to be addressed. We are the people’s representatives. We must address it. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the other bit is about social intervention. The biggest problem that our people are facing currently is lack of food. They are hungry. Forget about COVID-19. I am sure you go to your constituency. They will tell you how many people have died of COVID-19. I am not saying we should be relaxed, but they will tell you that they are suffering, and that they are likely to die from hunger. This is not time to invest in capital expenditure to build The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}