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{
    "id": 1518664,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1518664/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 129,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitutu Masaba, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Clive Gisairo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. First, I take this opportunity to congratulate Hon. Joshua Kimilu for bringing this timely Bill. Professionalising the institution of social work will address many issues at once. It was not until I became a Member of Parliament that I understood that nearly all Kenyans are vulnerable, especially when it comes to Government services. The challenges we faced with the new university funding model stem from the fact that all applicants are considered vulnerable. Similarly, the new Social Health and Insurance Fund (SHIF) is experiencing difficulties because everyone involved is classified as vulnerable. Once we professionalise that body and grant it the authority it deserves, we can take it to the grassroots level. This will ensure that everyone recognise this, as a professional organisation, and those serving as social workers will feel appreciated for their contributions. Additionally, we would be able to create a comprehensive database of all vulnerable cases within local communities, streamlining Government operations and making them more accessible. Hon. Temporary Speaker, even when it comes to issuing bursaries, my fellow Members of Parliament can attest that every case seems to claim extreme neediness. However, with an established database, we can categorise those cases effectively. Those databases will be protected, as the Bill proposes penalties for any misconduct. That provision will hold accountable any social worker who engages in unethical behaviour or misclassifies individuals. We are witnessing a rise in suicide cases, particularly among our youth. Additionally, cases of femicide are often not identified in a timely manner because social work has been viewed as a useless profession and so, it is not taken seriously. By professionalising this field, we can empower social workers to identify those urgent cases, bring them to light and resolve them promptly and, hence, mitigating cases of suicides, murders, and other social problems. This is a Bill that we should all support. Once it is passed and becomes law, we must develop structures to implement it down to the smallest administrative units such as wards. A comprehensive database should be created, allowing anyone who wants to help the vulnerable to easily access the necessary information. Whether it pertains to medical assistance, education, or security, individuals can access that data to make informed decisions that can benefit the community. I thank Hon. Joshua for his efforts. We fully support this Bill. Let us all rally behind it and ensure its implementation. 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."
}