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{
    "id": 584965,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/584965/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 317,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sang",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 907,
        "legal_name": "Stephen Kipyego Sang",
        "slug": "stephen-kipyego-sang"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I take this opportunity to congratulate Sen. (Prof.) Lesan for this wonderful Bill. I agree and share a number of contributions made by Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale and we will have an opportunity, during the Third Reading, to amend this Bill. However, it is important to note that the Bill before us by Sen. (Prof.) Lesan is pursuant to Article 57 of the Constitution that clearly indicates that there is a responsibility for the state to take care of senior citizens in this country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am sure that the wording of Article 57 of the Constitution clearly indicates that the responsibility of taking care of the senior citizens in this country rests upon the family and the state. To that extent, we must allow the family to do its job. However, we must also allow the state to carry out its responsibility. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I appreciate –more specially the Jubilee Government – that in this country, there is some programme towards appreciation of this particular Article. As I speak right now, we have the cash transfer among the senior citizens in this country. However, there is a challenge that this House has expressed itself on several occasions. Every other time we travel across our counties, we interact with people. We meet senior citizens in our counties aged 80 or 85 still asking us: “Where is the cash we hear elders and senior citizens are entitled to?” Therefore, this is one of the challenges that we must address. We may have a beautiful law, like the one before us, but we must take bold steps and look at the implementation. We must provide for the senior citizens in this country. The fairness of a state is judged on the basis of how it treats the weak. In this case, we are talking about the senior citizens. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Senator for Kakamega mentioned something that is very critical in terms of needs of the senior citizens; that is, medical attention. At the age of 60, 70 or 80, senior citizens are prone to medical conditions that come with age. Therefore, we must provide free medical services to our elders. I agree with the Senator that we may not need, as a matter of fact, serious residential homes for our elders. However, that is not compulsory in the Bill. We must establish some homes so that elders who want to go there and relax have that opportunity. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Senator for Kakamega and a number of us spend time in Nairobi. It is possible that you will find a family that has all its siblings and other family members all working and residing in Nairobi or even out of the country. However, 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."
}