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{
"id": 1522452,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522452/?format=api",
"text_counter": 228,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui West, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Edith Nyenze",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I also feel that the training they undergo does not expose them enough to the issues they will face in the course of duty. During training, they should be exposed to the kind of life they will experience at their work stations. We currently have some police officers in Haiti. Some of them were trained in urban areas like Nairobi and they are then taken to very harsh areas, which they have not been exposed to yet they are expected to perform and keep their jobs because job opportunities are very rare. So, one is put in a very harsh environment such that you need some help. This is an important Bill because it will address such issues and improve the welfare of police officers, especially their mental health. With those few remarks, I support the Bill."
},
{
"id": 1522453,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522453/?format=api",
"text_counter": 229,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you, Hon. Nyenze. Hon. Mary Wamaua, Member for Maragwa."
},
{
"id": 1522454,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522454/?format=api",
"text_counter": 230,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Maragwa, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Njoroge",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill. As I support and congratulate Hon. Peter Masara, I support my colleagues’ views because we need to establish psychosocial support centres in the counties, so that we can address mental health challenges within the police force by promoting professionalism, mental stability and accountability."
},
{
"id": 1522455,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522455/?format=api",
"text_counter": 231,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Maragwa, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Njoroge",
"speaker": null,
"content": "We do not only need psychosocial support centres in the police force. If it were possible for the Government, we would have them in all sectors. You will bear me witness that many people are dealing with economic hardships, social media and online pressures, relationship and family struggles, stresses in the work place, substance abuse, unhealthy coping mechanisms, health issues and lack of access to mental healthcare. All workers require psychosocial support to deal with those issues, not only police officers. Through those centres, we will guide, counsel and even get closer to those affected. Depression affects many people such as other public officers and civil servants, as well as children in primary and secondary schools, and students in universities. When a parent is hit hard by tough economic times and cannot provide for his or her children in university or secondary schools, the children undergo such problems. Back in the day when we were in primary school, we did not have to deal with such issues. I can say without any fear of contradiction that this Bill is crucial so that our police officers, who are experiencing a troubling increase in suicide cases amongst their ranks due to the factors that I have mentioned, can be supported. The proposed amendment Bill provides structured mental health support, potentially reducing incidents of erratic behaviour linked to mental distress. This is crucial for people whose work is to protect us. We should start by looking into their mental well-being so that we can enable them to serve the country better. You can imagine a police officer who is already mentally depressed and is expected to work during the day, rest a bit and at times, go on patrols at night to protect our people because we 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."
},
{
"id": 1522456,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522456/?format=api",
"text_counter": 232,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Maragwa, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Njoroge",
"speaker": null,
"content": "still have shortages in staffing. We cannot neglect their mental health bearing in mind that their work is to ensure that we enjoy security as we sleep and that our businesses and places of work are secure. Every Kenyan is entitled to security as a constitutional right. Before we move to other sectors, we need to start with our Kenyan police officers. That is why I want to congratulate Hon. Peter Masara for having thought about this. The moment we start with this, I know it is going to yield good fruits. Thereafter, the Government should think of how it can trickle down to other sectors so that we can fight the depression and stresses in our working areas. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I know we have such places in our hospitals, but they are found at Level 4, 5, and 6 hospitals which are not found everywhere in the country. If we can start in every county, we shall assist some of the areas with the little that they have to address psychosocial issues in our hospitals. I support this and request that when it goes through, let it be implemented to make sure that issues affecting our police officers and others in different working places can be addressed."
},
{
"id": 1522457,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522457/?format=api",
"text_counter": 233,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Andrew Okuome, Member for Karachuonyo."
},
{
"id": 1522458,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522458/?format=api",
"text_counter": 234,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Karachuonyo, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Odipo Okuome",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me this opportunity. First, the work of police is extremely essential, important, and very necessary. I believe that we do not treat our police officers in a manner commensurate with what they do for us. These are people who face danger every moment they are on duty. Sometimes they work at night, and at times during daytime. In some cases, there are people plotting how to disable them from doing their work of stopping them from illegal actions. Some lose their jobs in the process. When it comes to their living conditions, some police officers live in shameful residential houses. They live in mabati structures with floors that are sometimes cemented, and at times with bare soil. Those are floors to put their beds or mats on. All these are very frustrating conditions. People’s attitude towards police officers needs some corrective action. Some people think of police officers as enemies. They do not realise that they are not enemies. Those who take police officers as enemies are criminals. Sometimes the police may require to move their vehicle systematically and legally. The police need to correct themselves on the issue of bribe taking that occurs occasionally. I cannot emphasise much more on the problems the police face. On a positive note, police officers provide security. People realise their importance when a problem occurs. Under such cases, everybody looks for them to come and bail them out. Our populace also needs to be educated so that they can realise the importance of the police service. Because of their necessity and what they do for us, police officers need to be paid well. I know one of my colleagues said that they are well paid, but I very much doubt that. These people are not paid well. That is why we see them looking for minor mistakes committed by drivers and ask them for money. We do not need to subject such people providing excellent service to us to such situations where they have to get additional money in the form of bribes. Something needs to be done about that. I support the idea of psycho-social support centres. These centres should not just be for reaction. They should be used for prevention so that police officers’ mental and physical conditions are checked often to ensure they are fit for work. This will enable them to do their work well. These centres should operate continually. In addition, police officers should undergo general medical check-ups, which should include all requirements of wellness of their bodies. I have mentioned the importance of police officers’ work and the action we need to take. 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."
},
{
"id": 1522459,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522459/?format=api",
"text_counter": 235,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Karachuonyo, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Odipo Okuome",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Let me emphasise that something should be done about their accommodation. I would like to point out to my colleagues and the Hon. Temporary Speaker that it is almost impossible to live in the mabati houses they are provided with in hot places like Moyale. These houses are very hot during daytime and very cold at night. These conditions are intolerable for them. That is why they sometimes get a little upset and begin to do dangerous things like killing their spouses. We need to protect ourselves against such kind of situations by treating our police officers as human beings doing essential work for us. With those remarks, I congratulate my colleague, Hon. Masara, who brought up this Bill. I support it."
},
{
"id": 1522460,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522460/?format=api",
"text_counter": 236,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you, Member for Karachuonyo. Hon. Zainab Mohammed, Member for Migori County."
},
{
"id": 1522461,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522461/?format=api",
"text_counter": 237,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Migori County, Independent",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Fatuma Mohammed",
"speaker": null,
"content": " I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for the opportunity you have given me. I would like to add my voice on the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill. I support it in totality. It is a Bill that I am very sure every Kenyan would be positive about. The police service has suffered a lot. This kind of treatment would be good for them, considering that our police go through a lot. For example, there is no family connection in the police service. A police officer is transferred every single day. In the process, they lose connection with their parental and marital families. It is very important to take care of their well-being so that they know how to cope with such situations. The NPS needs assistance with financial management. We agree that their salaries are not adequate. Some join the service when they are very young and unable to take care of their financial needs. They end up with loans that they are unable to service. Social well-being will be important for them because a lot of challenges will be taken care of. We all agree that police officers go through trauma either directly or indirectly. In a situation where a colleague is shot dead next to you, you have to carry him or her. They have hard hearts, but their hearts are also soft. They go through stress. When an officer lose colleagues, they may think the next day it will be them dying. This tortures them directly or indirectly. If this centre is established, such problems will be taken care of, but not solved completely. Some Kenyans also bring down the self-esteem of police officers. There are situations where one uses mind-altering substances like alcohol or drugs and when the police come to arrest them, they throw words that lower their self-esteem. In such a scenario, a police officer might end up using a gun to finish you for lowering their self-esteem. When officers encounter such challenges, they can turn to the centres to take care of them by talking to them and understanding the situation they are in. What happened at the Westgate Mall, Dusit D2 Complex and Kapedo are living examples. Police officers who were at these areas during the incidents were never taken care of. There are scenarios where police officers shoot colleagues in circumstances that cannot be explained. In most cases, it is because of the trauma, stress and depression they go through. Nobody understands them. When a small argument ensues, a police officer ends up using the nearest weapon which is a gun. Our police officers get injured during service, but they do not have the means to manage, recover and return to work. They may lose a leg, eye or other parts of the body. When they go to a doctor, they are treated, but no extra service is given. When they realise they have one hand and can no longer hold their gun, they get into depression. They chose the job to defend the people and their country, but unfortunately, they can no longer serve. This sends them into serious depression, which piles up and trickles down to their families. I know finances are inadequate, but we should provide the centres in every polling station instead of the county level. Alternatively, we can try and put up centres at the constituency level and later move downwards to the sub-county level. It might be difficult for a police officer who works in Nyatike, where I come from, to go to Migori where such services are provided. That alone 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."
}
]
}