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{
    "id": 418344,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/418344/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 249,
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    "content": "where corrupt individuals will start to make a kill from monies set aside for ageing populations. For us to see the seriousness in our aged people, we need to appreciate the dangers that they face as we continue to live with them in our community. The first big challenge that the old people are living with is security threats which are real. There is a real threat to the security of individuals who are aged in our country and we know that. We have recent examples where aged people have been exposed to and subjected to threats on their own lives. We know that as recently as three months ago, parents of a Member of the National Assembly had their houses torched and they got burnt. They were not protected and these are the real challenges that our old people are facing. They are exposed and their lives are threatened. This is because of their age and because they cannot protect themselves. Recently, parents of a dentist colleague of mine, Mr. Maina Wanjigi, who was a Minister in a previous Government, were tortured in their house with iron boxes, among other things. These are not isolated cases. We are aware of many cases in which old people are subjected to torture, difficult situations just because they are aged. We know of other threats that old people face and these are myriads of abuses. These may not be physical abuses. They may be psychological. We are aware and know of many cases. We read in the Press and experience in real life denial of resources to old people by their own relatives. We are aware of this and it is widespread. This is another form of abuse to the aged people. We also know of rape cases of old people simply because they are exposed and living on their own. These are some of the challenges that old people, who are defenseless, are facing. We know that some old people have people who take care of them. In most cases, it is believed that the extended family would give the best care to the aged within our society. That may be true but there are significantly fewer of these people who are taken care of by their relatives. We know that old people are being taken care of by employees. These employees have no specific terms. Therefore, they are unreliable, lack interest and training. In most cases, they are a threat to the people they are taking care of. There are other factors that affect the old people. Some of these are poverty and deprivation. We know that recently, we had serious cases of HIV/AIDs which have decimated a lot of the population that would take care of old people. The older people have been left with grandchildren to take care of them. This has made the lives of these old people much more difficult. The housing of the old people is not conducive at all. Where there is housing, there are difficulties with the setting of the homes like stairs, toilets and other sanitary facilities which are not in proper places. There are no wheel chairs and trolleys. These are things that contribute to the discomfort of old people as they continue to live on their own. We know of the pension schemes that exist in our country, however, they have not helped our people. Getting money from a pension scheme like the NSSF is very difficult and it is only for those who were previously employed whereas there are thousands of old people who were not in employment and, therefore, are not beneficiaries 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."
}