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"id": 1558942,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558942/?format=api",
"text_counter": 182,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. David Ochieng’",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. Member for Runyenjes."
},
{
"id": 1558943,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558943/?format=api",
"text_counter": 183,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Runyenjes, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Muchangi Karemba",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. From the outset, I fully support this Bill. The matter to do with senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable people in our society is one that needs to be addressed as fast as we can. We will be judged by how we treat our elderly. It is improper when some elderly benefit from Government support while others of the same age do not. It is unfair. It is time we got a regulation that is able to organise these people properly so that we can have fairness in the manner in which this support is distributed so that we can build a just society. There was a time I had a chance to go round in my constituency and take stock of the affairs. I realized many people living with disabilities are not listed in Government records. Thus, there is no support that they get. They are hidden in the rural areas, and some in the urban areas. Many are unable to access any form of education or training. Most importantly, they do not get any support from the Government. I believe this stems from a lack of reliable statistics. I support having a registry. It will allow for a register of these people so that in every constituency, ward, and sub-location, the Government of Kenya is able to tell how many people deserve to be assisted. Referring to what Hon. Kiunjuri said, even as we think of how to support these senior citizens, and those that deserve this form of support, it is good to think about how we can support them to have extra income. I do not think it is sustainable. The funds used are from Kenyan taxpayers. It is the people of Kenya that contribute this money in the form of taxes. What if we facilitated them to make extra money from what they do? You will realise that a number of them have some pieces of land where they can do some basic farming. They can rear a cow or a goat. Some have a few coffee or tea bushes. How about if we ensured that they got more money from what they do?"
},
{
"id": 1558944,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558944/?format=api",
"text_counter": 184,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Runyenjes, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Muchangi Karemba",
"speaker": null,
"content": "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."
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{
"id": 1558945,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558945/?format=api",
"text_counter": 185,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "[The Temporary Speaker (Hon. David Ochieng’ left the Chair]"
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"id": 1558946,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558946/?format=api",
"text_counter": 186,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "[The Temporary Speaker (Hon. Farah Maalim) took the Chair]"
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"id": 1558947,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558947/?format=api",
"text_counter": 187,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Runyenjes, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Muchangi Karemba",
"speaker": null,
"content": "We acknowledge that the Kenya Kwanza administration promised that milk would sell for not less than Ksh50. While that is happening, we also take notice that we are buying animal feeds at a very high cost. The benefit we are getting from selling at Ksh50 and above is being eroded by the high cost of animal feeds. If we can address such, then the people who can rear a cow, goat, or keep chicken can supplement their income. It will not be sustainable if many people in this country become dependent. While we think of having a legal framework to assist them, I believe it is okay if we can legislate to support in a way that they can get extra income. Having said that, Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support. To support the vulnerable, let us also legislate ways to boost their income."
},
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"id": 1558948,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558948/?format=api",
"text_counter": 188,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Farah Maalim",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 16,
"legal_name": "Farah Maalim Mohamed",
"slug": "farah-maalim"
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"content": " Member for Kitui Rural."
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"id": 1558949,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558949/?format=api",
"text_counter": 189,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui Rural, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. David Mwalika",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to also support the Bill. From the outset, I support the Bill. Social protection refers to a set of policies and programmes aimed at protecting people from poverty, especially vulnerable groups throughout their lives. Kenya has tried to bring up social protection programmes. According to the 2023 Social Protection Policy, there are four pillars: income security, social health protection, shock- responsive protection, and complementary programmes. It is from this policy that we have this Bill that is supposed to actualise it. Currently, Kenya provides three types of social protection: cash transfers, access to basic healthcare, and enhanced social support. On cash transfers, everybody is aware that the Government has been disbursing Ksh2,000 to persons aged 20 years and above, as well as to persons with disabilities."
},
{
"id": 1558950,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558950/?format=api",
"text_counter": 190,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Farah Maalim",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 16,
"legal_name": "Farah Maalim Mohamed",
"slug": "farah-maalim"
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"content": " Did you say 20 years old and above?"
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{
"id": 1558951,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558951/?format=api",
"text_counter": 191,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui Rural, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. David Mwalika",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Apologies, but we need to prioritise those aged 70 years and above and persons living with disabilities. This money helps them to cater for their day-to-day needs, especially for food and other essentials. I have also realised that some people use this money to pay school fees for their grandchildren. The disbursement of funds has been a challenge; sometimes, they go up to six months without receiving any payments. As a result, the impact of this money is not felt. Another issue is that, for a long time, there have been no new registrations for the elderly. Some individuals are 70 or 75, but they have not been registered. The Government needs to address this because, as a Member of Parliament, you do not want people approaching you for support when they get to 70 years. Inflation is another challenge. The Ksh2,000 they have been receiving since they registered, possibly over 10 years ago, has significantly declined in value due to inflation. The Government needs to seek additional funds and increase this stipend from Ksh2,000 to Ksh5,000, which will assist our vulnerable groups. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the other issue is access to basic healthcare. This is where the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) come in. Before SHIF, we had the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), but SHIF has faced several challenges, including the registration of participants. I understand that, as of last week, 21 million people were registered, but fewer than 5 million are contributing to the Fund. Therefore, when it comes to funding and disbursement, providing support for 21 million people with contributions from only 5 million is challenging. The money is not enough. In Naivasha, we were informed that they contribute around Ksh6 billion each month, but the demand exceeds that amount. 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."
}
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