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{
    "id": 837276,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/837276/?format=api",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, as we pass laws in the Senate, we must remember, as the primary custodians of devolution, that we must ensure that devolution continues to receive support by providing the necessary legal framework for counties to implement the same as well. I would like to think of our Constitution as a body skeleton of laws. Therefore, giving it flesh and life depends on the Senate and our county assemblies. We can only legislate and think through what it is that we, as the Senate, can provide and give the platform for the 47 county assemblies in the Republic of Kenya to go down to details and take care of all the cultural sensitivities in the counties, the various diversities in terms of religion and all the other aspects. For example, what is it that suits the members of Homa Bay, Taita-Taveta or whichever other county? That is what Part II of this Bill does for us. Madam Temporary Speaker, Part III of the Bill provides for care of members of older societies, particularly the establishment and implementation of community and home-based care programmes for older members of the society by the national and county governments. This Part prohibits the abuse of older members of society and defines which acts constitute an abuse. Whether in a public gathering or county government function, we do not look at the sensitivities that come with being an older member of the society. For example, whenever the county governments conduct public participation forums, either on the budgets and other matters, the planners do not go to the level of thinking through that even older members of the society will have a thing or two to say about the Bills that are being processed. Therefore, they do not provide even social amenities, including things as basic as toilets, yet they know at a certain age, say, 85 or 90 years, one cannot go to public places if they are not assured of finding somewhere to relieve themselves. Such sensitivities may look like too farfetched or luxurious when you are still young and energetic and still in control of all your bodily functions, but as you age, these are things you need to consider and think through. Part IV of the Bill outlines the process of registering homes for older members of society. It sets out the procedure for making an application and registration. It sets out the conditions that will be required to be met before registering a home for older members of the society. As the society continues to change, things that were previously unheard of come into play. Previously, we never had safety nets to ensure that the older members of society are protected and not taken advantage of, but that is not the case anymore. We have to be alive to the realities of certain things that have been done to older members of the society. It might have been unheard of back in the day to hear that an old grandmother of 80 or 90 years has been raped or even killed, but it has become common practice nowadays. Even for those that are setting up these homes for the older members of the society, it is important for them to be taken through a rigorous registration process, for example, to ensure that the rooms that are provided for the older members of society meet certain specifications and conditions. There is need to establish the motivation for setting up a home for the older members of the society. If I were to set up such a home, it will be important for me to give a justification before the approval committee. This will ensure that we do not have people taking advantage of our older members of the society or doing what has been The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes"
}