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{
    "id": 993010,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/993010/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 286,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Halake",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13184,
        "legal_name": "Abshiro Soka Halake",
        "slug": "abshiro-soka-halake"
    },
    "content": "thanks to the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Situation in Kenya. I know that our secretariats are usually very good, but for some reason, I think your office was kind enough to give us the very best. We have had record time in drafting Bills and writing reports. This is our Sixth Report, and we are producing more reports than the House can debate them. I would like to say a special thank you to your office for providing us with support and the Clerk’s Office for giving us an amazing support system from our clerks who have done a fantastic job. The legal team led by Dr. Okello have done an amazing job with regard to processing the sheer volume of inputs we have received from the citizens of this country. As Sen. Mwaruma has said, this House is now becoming the face of Kenya. People are coming to us with all manner of things. You will be pleased to know that for the Pandemic Response and Management Bill alone, we received 163 submissions from so many people. We are meeting each of these people. Therefore, we would like to thank Kenyans as well for the interest they have shown in contributing to the welfare of our country during this time, not just financially, but also for their input into the legislative and policy framework. Lawyers have sat down. Before, we would think that the private sector will be driven by profits, but they have written big memos that have taken them many hours to submit to us, so that Kenya will be better. Our laws are stronger and more robust. I would like to thank all the stakeholders who contributed to the COVID-19 Committee for their invaluable inputs. There are those that we have not been able to meet and those we have been able to meet. All of you have provided invaluable support to the country. You should pat yourselves on the back for public service, even though some of you are in the private sector. Madam Temporary Speaker, by the time this Report was being done, we had about 49 sittings. As of today, when the Sixth Report was being written, we had 53 sittings. That is to say that as the Senate, we have burnt the midnight oil. However, this is not possible without the support and encouragement of Kenyans, your Office, the Office of the Clerk and the amazing support system. Also, importantly, the support that the Senators have shown us in contributing to the different reports as well as to the Bill. Madam Temporary Speaker, with those few remarks, I beg to reply and thank everybody for their support in the fight against the pandemic, especially our front-liners, the health workers, but more importantly, the support staff that sometimes get forgotten as we talk about our health workers who are doing a fantastic job. The support staff make sure that the health workers have somewhere clean to work from. Is our situation perfect? Maybe not, but I think this country is on the right path. It is doing its best. I am proud to say that, as a House, we will be supportive of all the efforts from all arms of Government without forgetting oversight. This is what this House does; oversight and ensuring that the people are represented well. Those are things we will not negotiate. We will definitely make sure that people are represented and counties are oversighted and protected. Kenyans will be proud of this House, especially during this time. 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."
}