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{
    "id": 1337550,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1337550/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 44,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Garissa Township, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Dekow Mohamed",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Hon. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 43(1), I rise to make a general Statement on the exclusion of vulnerable children and orphans in homecare centres and orphanages from the recent mass registration of new beneficiaries of the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme. Hon. Speaker, the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizens Affairs implements the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme. The programme targets older persons over 70 years, poor households taking care of orphans and vulnerable children, and persons with severe disabilities by providing a monthly stipend to support dignified living. Hon. Speaker, on 1st September 2023, the Government rolled out a countrywide month- long registration targeting 500,000 new beneficiaries of the Cash Transfer Programme. Whereas the noble exercise seeks to enhance the welfare of vulnerable members of our society, it is unfortunate that orphans and vulnerable children living in homecare centres and orphanages, being similarly needy, were not registered to equally benefit from the initiative. Hon. Speaker, it is also public knowledge that the Government intends to close all private-owned children's homes and orphanages in the country and allow only Government- run home centres under the Child Welfare Society of Kenya. The Government envisages reuniting the children with their parents or guardians and other family members where they can benefit from parental care and guidance. Nevertheless, most children in home care centres and orphanages do not have anywhere to call home or where to seek alternative centres other than the care centres. It is also unclear how hundreds of vulnerable children in private childcare centres will be transitioned to have their well-being and welfare secured. Hon. Speaker, I, therefore, urge the Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, to register vulnerable children and orphans living in childcare homes and orphanages in the Cash Transfer Programme and consider remitting their monthly stipend to those centres. Further, it is important for the Government to put in place suitable and sufficient 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."
}