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{
    "id": 1218111,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1218111/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 198,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "for bringing it back. People did not see its value, but I am so happy that I have been vindicated that this thing was actually necessary. We started it with a policy in 2007, and that is why I was saying earlier on that there is a deficit of policy in our governance. The policy went into place in 2007 and it laid out exactly what should be done. The Constitution came in 2010, when the policy was actually in place, which again strengthened it. In 2013, there was the Social Assistance Act, which provided for an authority, which has unfortunately not been operationalised. We are working in an environment where the legal framework is actually weak. We need to look at that. Members have indicated that there was discrimination, but the reality was that when we started, people felt it was just a pilot project. I remember the Treasury called and gave me Ksh500 million and asked whether I could start it. We had to start with meagre resources, and that is why we had to get a means of identifying people. We were using a means testing area such as your means of income and so on. We did not have enough money, and we had to cut off the age at 65. We also said that after the means testing, this was to be subjected to public opinion by members. That has not worked very well because the chiefs and assistant chiefs seem to influence it. Later, the policy that was suggested – and I would recommend that we go to that policy – was to get enough finances and put the cut-off above that age so that everybody gets it. Three years ago, as a Member of Parliament, we worked with the Ministry of Labour and we recommended that if you increase the age to 70, then we would be able to get enough money so that everybody above 70 years gets the stipend. In this case, you did not have to know whether they have other incomes, and that is what should be going on. If we do not have enough money, let us go by 70 years, take everybody registered every year and give them the money. That is actually what we need to do. The registration process should not be too complex. We can use the registration that we already have, just as we do with the registration of voters and identity cards. Every year, we can use electronic means of disbursing this money, because disbursement is another challenge. We are using banks, their agents and e-cards. Sometimes, the wazees go and they do not get that money because either their fingerprints cannot be read, or their cards have not been replaced. People really suffer. We need to streamline this. The Ksh1,500 was the beginning point. But in 2008, there was a Motion in Parliament to increase it. I was not in Parliament when it was recommended that we increase it from Ksh1,500 to Ksh2,000. That was implemented. I was in the Ministry and we immediately implemented it. I want to tell our colleagues that this is the time to implement all that. If we mean what we are saying, then we need to allocate more money during this budget time. We can calculate the amount of money that is needed for all our old people above 70 years and deposit money in their accounts. We must also look at the means of delivery. The banks and agents should have proper systems, and those wazees do not have to go there and stay for two days without being paid. Some of them also need caretakers because they are even blind. This is a serious issue that needs to be looked into. I think we should digitalise the whole system. Registration should be automatic on age, and we should have a single registry. That was also in the 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."
}