Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1373372,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1373372/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 194,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dagoretti North, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Beatrice Elachi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I also rise to support the National Government Coordination (Amendment) Bill by Hon. Malulu Injendi. I appreciate what he is proposing. As we talk about Valentine’s Day today, we also appreciate the fact that we want to bring in village elders on board through this amendment Bill. As we do that, we should also think how to deal with femicide cases that have hit our country. We know that Nyumba Kumi was introduced to assist along these lines. It was meant to assist every village to know who has come in, who the new person is and who is joining the neighbourhood. That is why when we bring in this issue of village elders, we want to see Kenya turn around and bring hope so that we appreciate each other’s neighbours. If we say there is love for our neighbours, we must start appreciating our neighbours. That is why Hon. Deputy Speaker, when we talk about the village elders, we want a structure that brings in a team that will help chiefs and assistant chiefs know what is happening. We have challenges of child labour and children not going to school. Within their communities, these elders will now point out children who have finished Junior Secondary School and are supposed to join Senior Secondary School but are still loitering. As we look at the structure, we want the Government to appreciate that we want a country with a sense of safety as we bring in community health workers and elders. We will know what is best for them if we do this together as hardworking Kenyans. How I wish we could stand together and ensure that all these things happening in Kenya come to an end. The most important thing we should ask ourselves concerns the definition of an elder. I like it when Hon. Malulu Injendi’s proposals mention recruitment and appointment. If asked, an elder should also have a value. People can identify these elders even before recruitment. They can say a certain person has brought something good to them. They can identify a person who has a history of bringing good things to their community. If we do it the recruitment way, people will feel and assume that they are employed to just do the service as a job. This structure of elders is supposed to comprise people who have retired and have been there for the community. Even elders who never went to work but were there to give their wisdom or have been in church leadership or some structures within that village level are the kind of people we are looking at. Both men and women. We must be aware of this issue of recruitment and appointment as we move on. We want to see elders who have something to give. One sacrifices and volunteers in this job. Here, we are just talking about an incentive for the job. I wish the Mover of the Bill re-looked at it properly. Maybe we should put the type of elder we are talking about in the regulations and how to ensure we take care of all clusters. This is a very good move. I am hoping that we can stand as a country and as Parliament this year 2024 and say that we have done a few things well. We know there are many challenges. However, I pray that we, as Kenyans, start appreciating our country of Kenya that 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"
}