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"id": 1217988,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1217988/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kilome, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Thuddeus Nzambia",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for instilling discipline in our colleagues. They are still learning and we understand. The beneficiaries of this programme have to be 65 years old and above. On the criterion of the geographical location and income, Article 57 of the Constitution of Kenya outlines the need to address the challenges faced by the elderly and guarantees them their freedom and fundamental rights. The OPCT intends to ensure that the challenges of meeting basic needs facing the elderly are addressed. Most of the beneficiaries can at least afford two meals in a day when the funds are availed to them and this diminishes the chances of malnutrition. The vulnerability of falling ill has also been addressed through cash transfers, which help them to access medicines and pay for their transport to health facilities. I am pushing to have continuous registration of elderly persons across the country for cash transfers. The need for this cannot be overstated. It is aimed at ensuring that elderly persons live in dignity. The elderly in our society have very many challenges, including the risk of poor health, sickness, injuries and poverty. The number of these people keeps on increasing every year. The Government of Kenya recognises the importance of taking care of the elderly and vulnerable persons. That is why in 2007, there was a budgetary allocation for this programme. The number of beneficiaries has been increasing significantly since then. Hon. Temporary Speaker, as a result, this programme has made remarkable achievements such as ensuring access to basic healthcare, improved household food security, establishment of small-scale income generating initiatives leading to dignified living by the beneficiaries. However, registration of OPCT came to a stop in 2016. That is where the main concern is. The last registration was done in 2016, which is seven years down the line. That means there are very many elderly persons who have attained the age of 65 years and above who are not benefiting from this programme. As a result, they are suffering so much and the Government has to intervene through making sure that we have timely and continuous registration of elderly persons. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am aware that there are very many challenges facing this programme. Service delivery challenges have had negative effects on the effectiveness of this programme. It has been noted that delivery to the beneficiaries has been inadequate and has not been in a timely manner. There has also been delays in the disbursement of funds by the Government. Sometimes it may take three or four months without the release of the funds to the beneficiaries. The performance of the programme has also been affected by irregular and unpredictable payments. Inadequate monitoring of the programme has contributed to its ineffectiveness. So, we need to have a serious monitoring of this programme, the way we do when releasing funds for free secondary education. We have to keep monitoring how the funds are being released. The persons who have qualified need to be registered to enjoy the benefits that come with cash transfers to cushion them from poverty and inaccessibility to basic needs. Despite the many challenges facing the cash transfer programme for the elderly, there is a consensus that registration of beneficiaries of the programme has to continue from where it stopped in 2016. The benefits of the programme are crucial to the elderly, especially provision of basic needs. Further, given the dire economic situation in the country and the world, there are many adverse effects. There is drought and the cost of living is high. There is also need to ensure that persons who qualified in 2016, seven years down the line, are registered in the programme. Continuous registration has to be undertaken with immediate effect. Hon. Temporary Speaker, you will bear me witness that all Members of Parliament from the 290 constituencies have been facing challenges with regard to the elderly. When 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."
}