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{
    "id": 993068,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/993068/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 39,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Let me also stand to congratulate you for a very good ruling on how we should move forward in this situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Let me remind this House that when we had the HIV/AIDS pandemic, I was then the Minister for Health. One of the things we needed to do was to get a decision of Parliament. However, it happens that, at that time, the President was not in the country. He had gone to another country for peace talks. He was to stop in Mombasa for three hours when he came back. So, through a special resolution of the House on the important subject of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we were able to access the antiretroviral drugs, which were hitherto, at that time, patented. We could only get them through the generics after the Government and nation declared it a national disaster. Coronavirus is a pandemic. It is not only affecting Kenya, but every other part of the world. Therefore, we must look for new innovative ways to make decisions that are both constitutional, good for our people and can make us move forward because we cannot keep them in abeyance. When we started technology in our schools, it was envisaged that in good time, we would go the virtual way of teaching and have bookless teaching. However, the pandemic seems to have hastened the process. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if there are any innovations to be done, we need to amend our Standing Orders so that we can incorporate the virtual online discussions. I must say that of late, we have heavily benefited in the Committee of the House through the zoom virtual meetings. They are lively and engaging. I have also noticed that we have literally had 100 per cent attendance. Therefore, we are in the right direction. We support your thoughts and today’s ruling. That is the way to go forward."
}