{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=152741","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=152739","results":[{"id":1545592,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545592/?format=json","text_counter":147,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Okiya Omtatah","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Kenya's place of advantage is being challenged by the emergence of the ports in Tanzania. We should also wake up and look at the fact that the Tanzanian territory is largely flat and easier to transport across. However, the Kenyan territory is a bit steep. You have to cross the Rift Valley. When you go to the Ugandan side, it becomes a bit steep. So, we need to look at how we can expand our infrastructure - the Standard Gauge Railway, the metre gauge railway and the roads. We should not neglect the roads. We should have a deliberate move to dual the road from Mombasa to Nairobi, Nakuru and branch off to Kisumu and Eldoret, then to Busia from Kisumu, and to Malaba from Eldoret, so that we can preserve our comparative advantage over---"},{"id":1545593,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545593/?format=json","text_counter":148,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Abdul Haji","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":" Sen. Omtatah, in the interest of time, conclude so that we can give the other two Senators an opportunity who want to speak on the statements."},{"id":1545594,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545594/?format=json","text_counter":149,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Okiya Omtatah","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I am well guided. By dualling these roads, we will be investing in efficiency to be able to compete with the natural terrain that Tanzania has. We have the road that goes through Namanga. If you look at the Kenyan side, the road funded by the same funder as Tanzania, the road is already breaking up and is narrower while the road in Tanzania is wider, smoother and has no potholes. Who cursed us? Why are we having this? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let us invest in this infrastructure, knowing that our country cannot even produce enough food. We provide on the service industry. We must also go back and focus on the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project. Open up the northern corridor so that we can have another artery of business from Lamu going all the way and opening up those sides of Somalia. So, let us take that statement seriously knowing that with the emergence of strong economies in the East and Central Africa, also manufacturing things that we have been manufacturing in Kenya, our lifeline might remain in us being to transport things affordably and cheaply. We have to crack down the corruption on our roads. We have to eliminate corruption. We have to make sure that the non-tariff barriers transporting through Kenya in security and goods being stolen are taken out. The Government should promote the establishment of proper garages along the corridors so that when trucks break down, they are serviced. In Busia County, for example, there is a big piece of land in Ngelechom traversing the border. It is about 300 acres. The Government should consider putting up a trailer city on that piece of land so that we do not have congestion on our side. Trucks can drive non-stop. Once they get there, all the procurement can be done and simply cross over to Uganda instead of having our roads cluttered with congestion. With those few remarks, I support the statements that I have commented on."},{"id":1545595,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545595/?format=json","text_counter":150,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Abdul Haji","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":" Sen. Hezena, please, proceed."},{"id":1545596,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545596/?format=json","text_counter":151,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Lemaltian","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to contribute to the Statement by the Senator for Marsabit County, Sen. Chute, on the ongoing livestock vaccination programme in the country. We know that about 22 million livestock exist in Kenya. Approximately nine million Kenyan citizens identify themselves as pastoralists, about four million of which, 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":1545597,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545597/?format=json","text_counter":152,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Lemaltian","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"entirely and solely depend on pastoralism as a means of livelihood. Therefore, when we talk about mass livestock vaccination, without making it clear on what specific diseases we are vaccinating our livestock against, that directly endangers the existence of these pastoralists. We are talking about a threat to approximately four million Kenyans. That is a huge percentage. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there has never been a public report that we are aware of on what these livestock are being vaccinated against. Diseases have not been specified. I like the statement that talks about outline of the timeline. How long it will take to vaccinate about 22 million heads of cattle? It is important to have answers to those questions because we know that at no point do you find a huge number of our livestock accumulated in one place. Most of us are nomadic pastoralists. It is important to note that we move our livestock from places to places. In Samburu County, we have something called laleta, which are like manyattas where livestock is put for a certain period of time. A lot of times, we also put our livestock in such manyattas away from where the citizens live in order to protect them from external threats and banditry. It is important also to tell us whether there was sufficient public participation done in these pastoralist counties. If our people are aware that the vaccination is going to be conducted, the importance of why these cows must be vaccinated as well as a clear outline on other issues. If at all there are no diseases affecting this livestock, why vaccinate them? I have heard information flying about that they are being vaccinated to increase their output and the quantity or kilogrammes of beef that will be produced by this livestock. How will our people directly benefit from the proceeds of selling this beef? We know that a lot of this beef is taken to Kenya Meat Commission (KMC). What is the Commission doing to directly benefit our people from the increased beef output? Secondly, if we have foreign players, like sponsors, partners or shareholders in this whole process, what is their main interest? Is this programme targeting a special breed or a hybrid of livestock or is it also targeting our local breeds like the Boran cow, which our people keep in the north? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we know that out of the 22 million livestock, a good percentage of it or more than half of it, is concentrated in the North Eastern counties; the ASAL areas of this country. It is also important to note that most of our people are illiterate. Therefore, they need to be given sufficient time for public participation and the leadership needs to be involved. We need to know. That is why these questions are valid and they come in timely. I support the statement, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."},{"id":1545598,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545598/?format=json","text_counter":153,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Abdul Haji","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":" Sen. Daniel Maanzo."},{"id":1545599,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545599/?format=json","text_counter":154,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Maanzo","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13589,"legal_name":"Maanzo Daniel Kitonga","slug":"maanzo-daniel-kitonga"},"content":"Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I will start with where Sen. Hezena left. For a long time in Kenya's history, we have never had such an operation - a massive vaccination of animals. For vaccination to be, you must be controlling a certain identified disease like an outbreak. Just like for human beings, COVID-19 Pandemic did happen. 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":1545600,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545600/?format=json","text_counter":155,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Maanzo","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13589,"legal_name":"Maanzo Daniel Kitonga","slug":"maanzo-daniel-kitonga"},"content":"Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you cannot just wake up and vaccinate human beings or vaccinate animals without scientific advice. For that matter, there has been an outcry and many farmers did not cooperate. You cannot also vaccinate by force; that you force every farmer. You persuade, you give reasons and the responsible professional bodies must completely advise them. Therefore, I do support that statement. On the statement sought by Sen. Kavindu, the Senator for Machakos, the SHA and SHIF issues have brought a lot of suffering to our people. Previously, we had the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). All those complaints are not without reason. There are questions as to private individuals running public money. There are issues of tendering processes, of which there is a law which controls that in this country. There is an issue of a consortium awarded and the cost of the award. Also, when you compare to what happened to the NHIF, we want to say that the thieves of NHIF are known and the criminals in NHIF are known. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, what has the Government done to prosecute and recover monies stolen through the NHIF? The reason the Government has done nothing is because the people who did that were friendly to it and some of them are now in SHA and SHIF. Therefore, there is a problem if the current Government is totally unable to sort this out. Kenyans can sort it out in the elections because at that time, Kenyans make decisions as to how they want to be governed. There are issues of signatories to the account and the contract agreement explaining why there is transfer of funds to an escrow account on a daily or a weekly basis. - The monies are raised from the public and put away outside the country. Additionally, in the contract agreement, there is Kshs7 billion set aside for training. Who are you supporting and who are you training? How did you make that assessment that you need Kshs7 billion to train? What are you training for because the staff who used to operate NHIF are the same staff who are employed? Have you employed new members of staff? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this whole matter is very controversial. There is need for the Cabinet Secretary in charge of health to come and highlight all these things to the public, so that the public can stop suffering. We, as Members, are paid that Kshs33,000 every month to go and assist our constituents. We still have to go to back to our pockets to get people released from hospitals. The matter of SHA and SHIF should be sorted out in the fastest time possible. Although I do not have a PhD in matters relating to animal husbandry, it is important that Kenyans be explained properly that simple concept, so that they can do a buy-in. There must be public participation before we do a massive vaccination to animals."},{"id":1545601,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545601/?format=json","text_counter":156,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Abdul Haji","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":" Next Order."}]}