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{
    "id": 836519,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/836519/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 63,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "called Kimani Maruge who was the face of Free Primary Education (FPE) programme in the former President Kibaki’s Government. In fact, he travelled to New York with Sen. Mugo to showcase what FPE programme could do. It opened doors for older people like the late Maruge to go school. Sometimes because of our limited thinking, we think that someone who is so old should not go to school, develop themselves, and gain more knowledge and skills. We were here with the late Sen. G.G. Kariuki - may he rest in peace - when he got his PhD as a Senator at the age of 80 years of age. That right is already protected in the Constitution. It is now being enabled by this Bill that Sen. Cheruiyot has come up with to ensure that it is achieved. Personal development of our parents and older people in society cannot be limited by the short-term desires and arguments such as: “what else do you want?” Quality life should not only be available for younger or middle-aged people, but also for older members of society to pursue their personal development. Mr. Speaker, Sir, to the extent that this Bill captures that issue, how does it operationalize and provide for personal development? Sen. Cheruiyot needs to think about this when dealing with the Bill. There is a lot of focus about taking care of old people, for example, just putting them in old people’s homes and taking care of them. That is it. Where is the personal development, for example, the right to go to school, work and access other amenities? There used to be limitation in the university as to who would get loan from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) for purposes of education. It needs now to be open to even older members of society. This is a right for personal development. There should be the right to be sponsored to technical training institutes (TTIs) to study. There are people who have been masons, carpenters, doing metal work and such work in the villages. They have been doing a good job and they need a little bit of tweaking here and there through the new TTIs. They must have a right under this law to develop themselves. They must earn a right under this law to develop themselves. They may be 60 years old but TTIs must be open to them. We sometimes converse and say, “We have built technical institutions for our youth”. These institutions must include everybody, because access to institutions for personal development is provided for in the Constitution. They have a right to own businesses and they must be facilitated to do business. In fact, access to resources for women, young people and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) should include all the people. When you are old and you are starting a business, it should be your right, even at 70 years old, because it is personal development. You can start dairy farming or whatever kind of business you want to do – that is up to you – but that opportunity must be there. 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."
}