{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=144555","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=144553","results":[{"id":1463732,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1463732/?format=json","text_counter":67,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"If suicide is complete, it is not criminal Hon. Julius. I do not know what you are talking about."},{"id":1463733,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1463733/?format=json","text_counter":68,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Kilgoris, KANU","speaker_title":"Hon. Julius Sunkuli","speaker":null,"content":" Hon. Speaker, I was speaking to the other Member. I had mentioned that in the UK, you were punished if you committed suicide. Your property would be taken away and your inheritance would be vanquished but now it is no longer an offence in Britain and Kenya. Attempted suicide should also not be a punishable offence, instead, it should be a case for doctors to handle and for society to learn how to cushion distressed Members. We are all suffering from depression."},{"id":1463734,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1463734/?format=json","text_counter":69,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Health. Take two minutes each."},{"id":1463735,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1463735/?format=json","text_counter":70,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Endebess, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I stand to support the Petition by Professor Atwoli, the professor of psychiatry. Attempted suicide is a mental illness. That being the case, it should not be criminalised. These are people who require psychological or psychiatric treatment. As the Committee looks into that, we have cases of judges and magistrates admitting patients to mental hospitals. For example, a judge would declare a patient be admitted to Mathare Mental Hospital and you wonder how the patient will be discharged after getting well. We have people who have stayed in Mathare Mental Hospital permanently which is a serious case. One even wonders who should pay the hospital bill. The Committee should ensure that it is a doctor who admits patients to mental hospitals. Once the patients are fit to stand trial, a doctor should discharge them before being taken back to court for trial and sentencing. A judge should not admit one to a mental hospital forever. There are many issues that the Committee will need to look into. If possible, they should invite Prof. Atwoli and the CEO of Mathare Mental Hospital. There are many issues that involve mental illnesses. I am also willing to appear before the Committee so that we can shed more light on that. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."},{"id":1463736,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1463736/?format=json","text_counter":71,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Hon. Atandi."},{"id":1463737,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1463737/?format=json","text_counter":72,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Alego Usonga, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Samuel Atandi","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I would like to support the Petition. In the last Parliament, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights sent a petition to this House, urging it to amend Section 226 of the Penal Code to decriminalise attempted suicide. Science has shown that mentally stable people do not end their lives or attempt to end their lives. If there are people who are attempting to end their lives, they essentially have a mental condition, and require treatment. To prosecute such people in court is not justifiable. I want to agree with the Petitioner that this House needs to make that consideration and decriminalise that section of the Penal Code that allows it. Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I support."},{"id":1463738,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1463738/?format=json","text_counter":73,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Hon. Baya."},{"id":1463739,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1463739/?format=json","text_counter":74,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Kilifi North, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Owen Baya","speaker":null,"content":" Hon. Speaker, I want to vehemently, oppose this Petition. In the Constitution, life is described as sacred. It should be preserved. It is illegal to take away one’s life same as another’s. Why would you want to jail someone for taking or attempting to take another person's life, but when one wants to take away his or her own, you say it is okay? 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":1463740,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1463740/?format=json","text_counter":75,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Kilifi North, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Owen Baya","speaker":null,"content":"God meant for people to live and not to be killed or kill themselves. If they have to die, it should be as per God’s plans. If we decriminalise attempted suicide in this country, we would be picking many people who have committed suicide from the streets. We must ensure that every Kenyan looks at life... Why do we oppose abortion? Why do we say we are pro-life as a country and on the other hand, we want to decriminalise a situation where someone takes it away? As a Christian and as a person who believes that life is sacred and must be preserved, I oppose this Petition, and I want to ask this House not to ever pass such a law. We will stand to be judged, and the Christian fraternity needs to come out and tell Prof. Atwoli that he is wrong to say those things. I stand with all Christians who believe that we are pro-life, we must preserve life, and let life go because God has willed, but not because man has willed that that person must die. I oppose."},{"id":1463741,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1463741/?format=json","text_counter":76,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Hon. Mwalyo."}]}