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{
    "id": 1558954,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558954/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 194,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Wajir North, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ibrahim Saney",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. When we talk about social protection, what comes to mind is cushioning people from vulnerabilities—mitigating the risks they face and strengthening their ability to rebound. This makes them more resilient and able to continue with life as it was. Where I come from, northern Kenya, droughts and famine have been serious risks to the lives and livelihoods of people. Pastoralists keep livestock for their well-being. With droughts and, more so, climate change lately, there has been serious concern about people’s adaptability to emerging risks. Social protection has been with us for some time. Relief food has been a common intervention, but has not been effective. Then came the Hunger Safety Net Programme, co- founded by donor communities. The civil society has been the driving force behind that programme. There has been a shift from relief food intervention to cash transfers, which has been a very effective way of responding to vulnerabilities and risks. Cash transfers have effectively eliminated cartels and corruption around the sale of relief food. The funds are directed to the recipients without intermediaries. While relief food only targeted the food component, cash transfers have addressed a broader spectrum of needs within a vulnerable household, including food, clothing, and medical care, although the stipend has been relatively low. This Bill provides a holistic approach to protecting people from vulnerability, abject poverty, and social exclusion throughout their life cycle, with an emphasis on those who are especially vulnerable: the elderly, widows, orphans, and those living in extreme poverty. I welcome this holistic approach and believe we need to strengthen it further by increasing the stipend provided by the Government from around Ksh2,000 to Ksh5,000. While this may not be sufficient, I believe it would go a long way in meeting the needs of vulnerable households in urban centres and pastoral communities. This small amount can make a big difference in the lives of those who are most affected. Social protection is all about offering a safety net for people who have lost their livelihoods. I believe there is no better way to uphold our values as stated in the Constitution— values of equity, inclusion and good social standards—than by ensuring that our marginalised and vulnerable populations are integrated into society. This Bill has come at the right time to ensure that social protection is not only left to civil society but that the Government also takes an active role in addressing these vulnerable groups. 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."
}