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{
    "id": 836521,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/836521/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 65,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, Article 57(c) states that- “The State shall take measures to ensure the rights of older persons–– (c) to live in dignity and respect and be free from abuse;” Many older people are abused in our societies, both in our villages and, more so, in the urban areas. This is an area that we must take good care of. I read reports, including the one I saw in the news today, where a 75-year old lady was found killed and dumped in Kirinyaga. We read in the newspapers of women being raped by young people. It is terrible! I cannot imagine that an old lady, who is perhaps struggling with weaknesses of age is raped at 70 or 75 years. This is where there is a lot of vulnerability. Mr. Speaker, Sir, apart from the establishment of the homes, I have not exactly found out how we will operationalize such an important provision in terms of making them live in dignity, respect and free from abuse. Do old people have a chance to report their children who abuse them? This is because there are families that abuse their parents, and I see them all the time. We see them as politicians, because we represent people. Some of them are killed by their children; others are chased away by their children and they no longer live with them. Sometimes at a particular age, the children inherit their parents’ wealth even before they hand over that property. This is an area we must think about in terms of dealing with abuse. Finally, Mr. Speaker, Sir, Article 57(d) states that- “The State shall take measures to ensure the rights of older persons–– ( d ) to receive reasonable care and assistance from their family and the State.” This is such a beautiful provision of the Constitution. We used to care for our parents just because of religion and the African culture. However, do many people know that it is a constitutional duty for families to take care of their old? It is no longer left to the wishes of members of the family, their religious beliefs or societal values. It is a constitutional requirement that family members must take care of their older parents and relatives. I am happy that this law does not say “the children;” it says “family members,” meaning it can apply widely. It can be a last-born brother taking care of their older first- born brother, and so on. That must be an obligation and we must find a way of operationalizing it. The Chairperson of the Committee is here and I am sure that they have done the amendments, but they can continue doing some more amendments so that when we finally pass this law, it has a mechanism for dealing with that constitutional obligation that has been put on family members. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have seen some of the obligations that have been put on the State in this law in so far as the care of older members of society, which include establishment of community-based programmes and dealing with prevention and promotion of older people. This is a promotion programme that seeks to promote independent living of older members of society. This is very good because they must have a right to choose whether they will live as a group or one can live in his home. 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."
}