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{
    "id": 418342,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/418342/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 247,
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    "content": "problem of the aged is enormous; the Senate urges the national Government to develop a comprehensive policy for the aged and initiate innovative projects such as small-scale residential homes in each county to enable them access necessary care and live dignified lives. Before I get involved in the actual debate, I would like to refer to the constitutional requirement. Article 57(c) and (d) says; “The state shall take measures to ensure the rights of older persons- (c) to live in dignity and respect and be free from abuse; and (d) to receive reasonable care and assistance from their family and the State.” The life expectancy in this country has risen marginally from around 56 years to 59 years and has gone up to between 58 to 63 years. Although this is a marginal rise in the percentages of ages, it has substantially increased the number of old people in this country. Owing to that, two things have happened; the number of Kenyans who are 75 years and above is about 1.2 million. Those who are over 85 years are close to 500,000 now. The numbers continue to swell. I am sure that in a shorter period, these numbers are likely to increase by 50 per cent. There is something else that has happened recently. There has been a significant disruption in the social structure in the lives of our people and this has affected, in a very fundamental way, the older people. The older people are a very fragile lot. We know that there are certain things that affect the older people which are very obvious and which have very significant effects on how they live. Senile dementia is one of those conditions that affect the older people and they go into a state of forgetfulness. They lose memory and, in fact, the problem with this is that it affects the nervous system of the person. Therefore, there are several disorders that affect the older people. We know them and some are the ones affecting the older persons with us at the moment. These are things like Parkinson’s disease. There are also incidences of individuals who had traumatic injuries in their brains when they were younger who now suffer from sclerosis disease. These are individuals who were active in sports in their earlier lives. This starts manifesting in their later days. There are several other things that affect the older persons. These are things that we see very often. We see, literally, every ageing person being slower in their capacity to move around as a result of ageing of the muscular skeleton system. The ailments I have mentioned are not known to us to be curable. The diseases hamper the capacity of self care. They hamper individuals from taking care of themselves and are not curable. These are factors of ageing that affect the quality of life. It is very important that we get concerned about them. Recently, there have been Government interventions in these issues. There was a suggestion of a social support programme which individuals of a certain age would benefit by being given a mere Kshs2,000 to take care of these difficulties. These ailments resulting from old age do not only need cash but care. So, cash and care are required to manage this. The Kshs2,000 does not go far. This is such a small amount of money to take care of older individuals. The Kshs2,000 that has been allocated was not well planned for. It lacks policy guidelines and if we are not careful, this is another avenue The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}