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"id": 994085,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/994085/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13131,
"legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
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"content": "We have also observed that evictions being carried out during this COVID-19 season, whether notices had been issued or not, are inhuman and uncalled for completely. The Committee notes that the President had directed that no evictions will be carried out, but we have seen evictions still went on. I even brought together the 17 Members of Parliament (MPs) in Nairobi. The Women Representative and Nominated Senators, Sen. Kwamboka and Sen. Omanga, came for that meeting. We met with the CS for Interior and Coordination of National Government, the CS for Health and the CS for Water and Sanitation. We told them that they cannot evict people during the time of a pandemic. Honestly, it is inhuman. Even if they want to go to their village, how do they go there yet you have put a ring around Nairobi? In that meeting, they committed that they will not do it. Regarding the Ruai Sewage area, they explained that they are terminating sewage. There is a contractor who had three weeks left and was even going to sue the Government. That is the termination point. We are trying to do 51 boreholes across Nairobi. When you go down, there is sewage. Millions of the People of Nairobi were suffering because there is no termination point. We said: “Okay, if that is the case, why are we not doing it properly?” Madam Temporary Speaker, after that meeting, we got a list of all the areas of public land that we have shared with the MPs, to tell their people that after the pandemic, unfortunately, some of these actions must be taken. However, during this time of the pandemic, it is completely uncalled for and must be condemned. The list is with us. If the list of all these areas, including Karen and many areas is sent to us officially, I will possibly table it. We need to know how what was public land has been stolen and taken to the hands of individuals. We will not sleep until we get justice for these people. Madam Temporary Speaker, access to information is a right of every citizen under Article 35 of the Constitution. However, some public institutions have ignored requests from Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) pertaining to various issues relating to COVID-19. There are Kenyan citizens in the diaspora, we observed, who have been adversely affected by the effects of COVID-19. We had a discussion with the CS for Foreign Affairs. Unfortunately, these citizens cannot afford to pay for their tickets back home, or even where they can, they are not able to because skies are closed. We agreed on a procedure with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of how once Kenyans are a certain number, they are able to come together and get Kenya Airways to go and bring them back home. This is a matter we are still following up. We also encourage the Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations to deal with this matter as well. Madam Temporary Speaker, we might censure the Ministry of Education. This is because we met all these stakeholders, but the CS is playing cat and mouse games. We have invited him repeatedly and he alleges that he has been informed that he can only come to the Senate to talk about Pre-Primary and Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE). What a shame and such a poor reading and understanding of Articles 95, 96 and 135 of the Constitution. The CS is answerable to Parliament. If he does not come for the next meeting, we will issue summons and fine him, pursuant to the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act. This is because oversight is not a suggestion and not for fun. It is not a favour. You 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."
}