HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, POST, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"count": 1608389,
"next": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=api&page=152952",
"previous": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=api&page=152950",
"results": [
{
"id": 1547702,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547702/?format=api",
"text_counter": 236,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wakili Sigei",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Senate Majority Leader."
},
{
"id": 1547703,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547703/?format=api",
"text_counter": 237,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 13165,
"legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
"slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
},
"content": " Temporary Speaker, there are many reasons why as Majority Leader, I rise to say different things. Today, on this particular matter, allow me to celebrate Sen. Crystal Asige. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1547704,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547704/?format=api",
"text_counter": 238,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 13165,
"legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
"slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
},
"content": "There have been many Senators that have been nominated to this House to represent persons with disability. You must first place context for people to understand why this is such a milestone. This Bill amends the Pearsons with Disability Act, 2003. We have had three Parliaments. This is the third Parliament since the coming into place of the new Constitution and with all the challenges that persons who are gifted differently face in this country, it has not been possible to get somebody to put in the hard work like Sen. Crystal Asige has, to ensure that this Bill becomes law. I know among the many conversations that I have had with her, this was among the first things that she asked me about. To help her, hold her hand and ensure that she succeeds at this. This must go on the records of this House. The opportunity that we are granted to legislate in this House is an opportunity to change the lives of ordinary citizens. Every law that we pass here affects people one way or the other. It is always our challenge to ensure that we pass law that makes the life of other citizens better. They look at us and say thanks to the legislators that are in the 13th Parliament, they have finally remembered us. The population of Persons Living with Disability is in the millions in this country. Many of them continue to face discrimination and various challenges that have not been addressed despite the fact that they have very good provisions, courtesy of our extremely progressive Constitution. Therefore, I just felt that it would be important to celebrate the industry of this colleague of ours, who has shepherded this law, ensured that this business is finally concluded, and is now back here with a mediated version of the Bill, and we are now passing it. I know this, because last Session, together with another colleague, I think Senator Isaac Maura, we attempted this. You know--- he did not--- unfortunately, and no offence to him, we did not succeed. You know, there are many Members that begin on the work of legislation, but they do not have the discipline to follow it through and ensure that it comes into law. There are many people that have attempted. So, when a colleague of ours dedicates their time, as Sen. Crystal has, together with those that have worked alongside her, our staff, and those in the National Assembly that guided the Bill, we must take time to celebrate that. I know that on the day when we finally conclude on this and this is signed into law, persons living with disability will bless each one of us in this House and say, at least we have been remembered, finally, after so many years. Therefore, I want to thank all the stakeholders that have been involved, those that have given their feedback and input. I know the National Councils for Persons Living with Disability have even visited in my office more than two occasions and asked that we please conclude. It was becoming an embarrassment of monumental proportions that about12 years after the advent of the new Constitution, we have not aligned our laws to the provisions of law. Therefore, I am happy that this afternoon we are bringing this business to a close, to ensure that when you meet persons living with disability on the streets, at least, you can sit with them and say, we have eventually done that which we promised. I know this The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1547705,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547705/?format=api",
"text_counter": 239,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 13165,
"legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
"slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
},
"content": "was part of the charter that we signed with persons living with disability at the UDA Party. For this to have come to pass today is something worth celebrating. Therefore, Sen. Crystal Asige, this alongside the other one that I challenged you, where I know you have already concluded in Senate; the nominations of persons living with disability into our county assemblies and it is presently before the National Assembly. You conclude those two legislative proposals and ensure they become law, you will have permanently sealed your place and the ODM party will celebrate you and say that we nominated a person who deserved that position. Congratulations and thank you."
},
{
"id": 1547706,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547706/?format=api",
"text_counter": 240,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wakili Sigei",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Senator Sifuna Edwine."
},
{
"id": 1547707,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547707/?format=api",
"text_counter": 241,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
"slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
},
"content": "Hon. Temporary Speaker, I was waiting for the point at which the Majority Leader utters the words that he has finished with, thanking the nominating party for bringing such a brilliant individual to represent persons with disabilities. Of course, the record of this House will show that the ODM Party continues to be extremely proud of the nomination of Sen. Crystal Asige. She has demonstrated an understanding of the issues of the people that she represents that has widened our perspective and understanding of the issues facing persons living with disability in this county. Allow me to start with an often repeated adage in this House, that the National Assembly is a place where Senate Bills go to die. For the very first time, and maybe Crystal will be sharing the magic, because if you look at our Order Paper, we have many more Bills that that will require the input of the National Assembly. For the very first time, we can see, first of all, a very positive reception of ideas that have originated from this House, and secondly, an action by the National Assembly to actually enrich the proposals that we have met in this Senate. So, I want to say that I support the amendments by the National Assembly. There are three specific clauses that have been introduced by the National Assembly that I wanted to speak to. First of all, there is an amendment that appears as Clause 26, which deletes subclause (1) and substitutes the subclause with the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, ideas and the right to access information on the equal basis with others in a timely manner and without additional cost. I believe this is something that Sen. Crystal wrote herself, as it aligns with the challenges she has presented to the Secretariat since the start of this Session. From accessing basic items such as the Order Paper to her persistent reminders to this House about her inability to view the content shared in the group in the manner it is presented to others. I am certain that Sen. Crystal wove into the Bill herself, ensuring she could access information in the same manner as Sifuna and other able-bodied Senators in this House do, and in a timely fashion. Too often, debates would begin only for someone to realize that the information needed to be adapted into a format that Crystal could access. I am also certain there were additional costs incurred in making this information accessible. Hon. Temporary Speaker, allow me to mention that during my December meeting with Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in Nairobi, I had the privilege of meeting a Very Important Person (VIP) named Angela. I had promised to arrange a meeting The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1547708,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547708/?format=api",
"text_counter": 242,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
"slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
},
"content": "between her and Sen. Crystal, as her insights deeply enriched my understanding of the challenges faced by PWDs, particularly those who are visually impaired. Would you know that when a visually impaired person visits a doctor, they require someone else to accompany them to read and interpret the doctor's findings regarding their condition? This presents a significant constitutional concern as medical information about one's health is highly private and not something one may wish to share with others. It is a private affair. Imagine asking Members of this House to have their spouses read their medical test results—they would not allow it. Now, consider the predicament of visually impaired individuals who must rely on a third-party stranger, simply because they are helpers, to read and relay these private medical results. Of course, that person is also consuming that information, in proper violation of the rights to medical privacy. When prescription drugs are given, the standard practice in our hospitals does not cater to special needs. You see the small envelopes in which they put the drugs—there must be a way for a visually impaired person living independently to identify that this is medicine for their headache or this is medicine for another condition. Even the instructions written on those envelopes, such as 'take one times one' or 'one times three,' are inaccessible. Without someone to assist, it becomes nearly impossible for visually impaired persons to follow the prescription properly. She challenged me, as a legislator, to ensure that the right of access to information, as prescribed here, is fully upheld. This means we must expect compliance from our hospitals by finding ways to guarantee that medical results or prescriptions are provided in a language and format that can be accessed by all individuals. Whether this involves incorporating Braille into medical reports and prescriptions or other innovative measures, the goal should be to make information accessible to everyone. I remain hopeful that Sen. Crystal Asige will not give up and provide me with the opportunity to have that important conversation with Angela. As the Senate Majority Leader rightly pointed out, the role of legislation is to solve real problems faced by real people rather than merely passing laws for the sake of it. Hon. Temporary Speaker, there is New Clause, 66A, addressing individuals who procure, causes, encourages, or solicit a child or an adult with disabilities to engage in begging. This is very serious phenomenon, particularly in Nairobi. Due to the economic challenges often faced by PWDs, the society has conditioned many of us to automatically assume that they require our financial support whenever we encounter them. However, many of these PWDs possess the ability to fend for themselves and thrive independently. In Nairobi, efforts were made to ensure that PWDs were given opportunities to conduct business within the Central Business District (CBD). Unfortunately, a recent incident involving the County Government of Nairobi City led to PWDS being evicted from their business premises within the CBD. This action caused significant consternation among the county leadership. Those familiar with the streets of Nairobi will recognize a phenomenon where a specific person with a disability often walks alongside an able-bodied person, soliciting alms. This arrangement has persisted for years, and you can observe a kind of territorial system in place. Each person seems to have their designated square, akin to how drug The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1547709,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547709/?format=api",
"text_counter": 243,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
"slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
},
"content": "dealers are known to claim territories, ensuring no one else can beg or request alms in their space."
},
{
"id": 1547710,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547710/?format=api",
"text_counter": 244,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
"slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
},
"content": "This tells you that this is an organized syndicate. These groups seek PWDs from villages or estates here in Nairobi, ensuring they are stationed at specific corners to beg for alms. While it is not the case for all of them, it is a phenomenon that cannot be ignored. It is, therefore, our responsibility to protect these individuals, ensuring they are not taken advantage of. In most cases, you will find that the money collected at the end of the day is not retained by the PWDs. They receive only a very small percentage of the earnings. Imagine, this is a cartel operation—a cartel boss essentially controls areas like Harambee Avenue. He stations five PWDs at every corner of Harambee Avenue, bringing them in the morning, placing them strategically, and then returning in the afternoon to pick them up and collects every coin they have earned that day. This not only exploits the PWDs, but also takes advantage of the empathy and generosity of the public. It is indeed an abuse of our good nature and our inclination to assist those who appear to be in need. This has unfortunately led to significant hostility being directed toward genuine PWDs. There is a perception among some that they might be part of the syndicates soliciting alms, while in reality, these individuals are being exploited by others who take advantage of their circumstances. The Bill proposed by the National Assembly, which I fully support, stipulates that anyone found exploiting PWDs by forcing them to beg or solicit alms in the streets will, upon conviction, face a fine not exceeding Kshs2 million and imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both. Once this provision is passed, I urge the National Police Service (NPS) to act swiftly. There are some straightforward and obvious cases in the streets of Nairobi. If you find somebody has been walking the same corner for the past 12 to 20 years, it should be a red flag that that person needs to be investigated. We want to encourage PWDs, even though they may be engaging in these activities against their will, to cooperate with law enforcement to ensure they are not victimized, as they are, in fact, the true victims in these circumstances. They are no different from the Kenyans we discussed earlier, who were lured into distant countries only to fall victim to exploitation by cartels operating in these online scams. Lastly, the New Clause 73A provides that every Government agency constructing residential and commercial buildings shall reserve at least 5 per cent of these buildings for acquisition by PWDs. Furthermore, the terms and conditions for such acquisitions to PWDs shall include interest-free and longer repayment periods. This is a live matter, especially here in Nairobi. I believe it is crucial to clarify that when referencing 'Government agency,' it includes both the national and county levels of Government. As you know, the Nairobi City County Government is currently undertaking the largest housing construction project in the country. Thirteen old council estates are being redeveloped under what the county government refers to as the Urban Regeneration Programme. Groundbreaking has already taken place at the Woodley site just a few weeks ago, and there are approximately 12 other estates awaiting similar development. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1547711,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547711/?format=api",
"text_counter": 245,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
"slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
},
"content": "If you examine the agreements signed between the Nairobi City County Government and the developers, it is stated that the Nairobi City County Government will be receiving a proportion of housing units equivalent to the value of the land contributed for the specific project. For example, in Woodley, the land was reportedly valued at approximately Kshs10 billion, which entitles the Nairobi City County Government to a 30 per cent share of the housing units to be constructed in that project. How I wish this particular provision had been implemented earlier. Sen. Asige, unfortunately, in that agreement between the residents and the developer and Nairobi City County Government, nobody thought about access to housing by PWDs. You need to think about it at the inception, so that it is clear to the residents that, for instance, housing units on the ground floor will be exclusively for PWDs. There is no point of having a PWD on the 20th floor and creating even more problems when it comes to access. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I wish that this had been done earlier. As I have told you, you need to hang out with Sen. Crystal before you see some of the angles to these real issues. I hope we can make sure that there is a way of ensuring that Nairobi City County Government and the national Government which is doing houses in Mukuru and Langata ensure that 5 per cent will be set aside for PWDs to occupy even when it comes to contracts that have already been signed. The second limb of that particular provision provides for interest-free and longer periods of repayment. This is extremely critical because as we have been educated more than once here by Sen. Asige, there are economic downsides that come with PWDs because of the way the Kenyan economy is set up. They start off with clear disadvantage. They might not have the same access to resources or credit that we able-bodied persons have, or even jobs and economic engagements that can be meaningful to them. For us to provide interest-free payment and longer periods, it allows for these houses to be accessible to all these people. I remember having a conversation with one MP where the houses are being done. They said that the houses are affordable, but they deposit alone is Kshs150,000. We are doing the houses essentially in areas that were former slums. If you go to Soweto B in Langata, the people who are targeted to move to those places cannot afford Kshs150,000 as a deposit. In fact, that provision of a deposit should be removed entirely. We were able to push the Nairobi City County Government for them to consider that if there are people who have been occupying those houses in Woodley from way back when the estate was built, they do not need to put down any deposit. In fact, they do not need to pay any money. The Governor of Nairobi City County is on record saying that former residents of Woodley who gave up their houses for redevelopment will get their houses for free. The rent that was paid by their fathers and their fathers before them up to date is what constitutes the purchase price, and that it is a return for the goodwill in cooperating to ensure that the project is done. Even for the national Government, this question of asking residents of Kibera or Mukuru to pay a deposit of Kshs150,000 to access a unit then you start paying slowly will not work, especially for PWDs. We hope that we can convince even the national The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}
]
}