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{
    "id": 584941,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/584941/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 293,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "At the moment, there exists a huge void in the laws which exist in this country that will enable the elderly to live comfortable lives, well protected and their security assured. There is no comprehensive legislation or framework that makes senior citizens to realize comfortable lives. Currently, we know the changes that are taking place in our society. There are a lot of abandoned persons within our community. They are very vulnerable, unprotected and do not enjoy the benefits offered by the Constitution of this country. We know the terrible things that happen to elderly people in this country and we have witnessed them. We know that they are happening during our time. For example, if you are an old person in Kisii, you are in a very dangerous position because your life can end at any time. We are aware that elderly people in some communities are labeled as witches. In fact, once they are labeled as witches, they are condemned without being tried, listened to and they are brutally murdered. We have seen very sad cases where elderly people have been burnt in their houses for no reason except the fact that they are elderly; they are condemned as witches and killed. This is a very unfortunate situation where the elderly are not protected by our Constitution as is stated in Article 57. Those of us who come from the coast know what happens; there are incidences where the elderly are condemned for no apparent reason. They are not given a chance to defend themselves and the punishment meted to them is very unjust, brutal, severe and irreversible. In fact, the elderly people in the coast are not killed by strangers. Sometimes, they are killed by their own children, relatives or sadists who enjoy killing people in the name of eliminating witches from the societies and communities that they come from. The urbanization, urban migration and the changing lifestyles has separated families in that the elderly people have been left in the rural settings, while their children have migrated. There is a huge deficiency in the assistance and support to the elderly people, because the youth have migrated to the urban areas. Therefore, this Bill takes into the account these changes in the society and looks for ways in which we can assist the elderly people, by creating a framework through which we can give effect to Article 57 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. This Bill seeks to find ways in which we can assist the elderly people to live in a dignified manner in our societies. It also seeks to impose specific obligations on caregivers, so that they can provide for the elderly people wherever they are. This Bill also seeks to establish some areas and stations where we can take care of the elderly people. I am sure it is one of those things that we can consider as we have reached that stage in our society, where we have both elderly and young people whose children and parents are living away from them. We could establish centres which can provide for the elderly people. This Bill seeks to create some framework in which we can take care of the elderly people in any station wherever they are, be it in their homes or away from their homes. This Bill has several parts, which seek to provide for possible ways in which we can take care of the elderly persons by proposing the appropriate legislation through which we can be able to do this. So, the objective of this Bill is purely to create legislation through which we can take care of the elderly. 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."
}