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{
    "id": 736150,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/736150/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 105,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Ngetich",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 511,
        "legal_name": "Cecilia Chelangat Ngetich",
        "slug": "cecilia-chelangat-ngetich"
    },
    "content": "Regulating the insurance service is something that is key. Under Clause 31 there is a proposed amendment that no person shall be registered unless they are living in Kenya and they have the required assets. The world has become a global village. Members of Parliament travel abroad quite often. It is important that we access these services even when we are out of the country. I am happy about the amendments that specifically touch on the functions of the board concerning the insurance. We pass many laws here. The Ministry also makes policies and comes up with regulations. However, without an authority to monitor implementation, the services talked about remain on paper so people do not get the right services. So, I support this Bill and urge that it be implemented to the letter because insurance services are normally very expensive. I was an employee of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for a period of 27 years and I never used my NHIF. I have always wondered what happens to that money when you do not use it. I propose that in future we must have in place regulations that motivate those who contribute to the Fund. If, for example, you do not utilize the amount you have contributed in a year then some percentage could be returned to you or you could nominate somebody to benefit from the contribution. It could be orphans from a children’s home or the aged who cannot access medical insurance. I also take this opportunity to say that while campaigning, I realized that the aged who do not get the social assistance cash transfer suffer a lot. The Government cannot pay for all of them. In advanced years one is prone to many diseases such as diabetes. The old people I am talking about cannot afford medical care because they do not have any form of medical insurance. In future, this House should enact legislation that would allow such people to get covered by the NHIF. I know that some companies offer life insurance policies to their employees even after they retire. I also realized that while it is on paper that persons living with disability should get the NHIF cover, this is not implemented. The authority proposed here has the power to oversee the regulations by insurance companies. It should check whether the insurance firms, indeed, offer the required services. We just concluded our party primaries. I think that is why we are not so many of us present in the Chamber. Some are busy sorting out their issues with their respective party tribunals. I accepted the verdict of the people. I would like to wish all those who got nominated well even as we wait for the general election on 8th August. I want to call upon everybody to preach peace during this particular period as we prepare for the elections and to remember those who are suffering from hunger. I also want to take this opportunity to request the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives if there is any maize in the reserves, instead of people dying, he should issue guidelines to have it released to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots to save those who are dying for hunger. This maize can be replenished later by buying more or importing because I know in some parts of the country the harvesting season is near."
}