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{
    "id": 837291,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/837291/?format=api",
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    "content": "candidly that she had opted to stay there and that she cannot come back to Kenya because she knows the problems she will face during old age. According to her, the aged in London are well taken care of in terms of medication, food and any other needs. Madam Temporary Speaker, this nation has to come to that level where we are concerned about our aged. We, in this Senate, need to ensure that we walk the talk with regards to the provisions of the Constitution. The Constitution is well meaning and it clearly stipulates the rights of the aged in Article 57, and these rights include respect. Madam Temporary Speaker, I heard the Mover talking about the neglect of the elderly. I remember, during the olden days when we were travelling in a bus and you spotted an elderly person standing, we would rise for the person so that he or she could sit down. However, this no longer exists. Therefore, as we talk about this Bill, we have to ensure that the component of respecting the aged in our African culture is also factored in. It is very important that as we a take care of the aged, we also see how we can get the maximum that we can from them. Madam Temporary Speaker, the aged are neglected everywhere. I remember at one point when a friend wanted a bank loan, but they declined her application because she had about five years to retire. It does not mean that when you are aging, you have reached your optimal in terms of development. We need to ensure that the aged participate fully in the society and avoid saying that someone has reached the optimal and cannot participate in economic development. There is need for the Senate to address this issue, so that the aged live gracefully and feel accepted in the society. I support this Bill because of the value it will bring to the aged people. They have a lot of wisdom and we need to see how we can tap it from them. We can only do that by staying close to them. Madam Temporary Speaker, there was an issue of great concern in the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare and in the Committee on Education, where we felt that the Abasuba language has become extinct. Why is it extinct? Where are the aged? They were not brought on board, because when you bring them on board, they will leave something for us to share with the next generation about ourselves and our children. Madam Temporary Speaker, in as much as this Bill is talking about homes, I want Sen. Cheruiyot to factor in the fact that there is need to invest in gerontology, which is the scientific study of old age. When people get old, there are many things that come into place psychologically and physically. Therefore, there is need for gerontic nurses to be employed to ensure that the needs of the aged are taken care of so that we can get their blessings. This will ensure that the aged are not just dumped in a home without the necessary care. It should not be a situation where they have been left in the homes without people to take care of them, ending up cursing their children and grandchildren for neglecting them. It should be a situation where they feel that they are in that home because everyone, including their families, the society and the nation mean well for them. Madam Temporary Speaker, there is need for a kitty to be set aside at the county level so that people at the county level can also ensure that their aged are taken care of and respected. This will also ensure that our aged play a role in the economic development of this country. There is usually a special neglect of the aged, and this Senate must ensure that this does not continue by ensuring that the aged are taken care of. We need to ensure that we tap into the information they have. We also need to sure that The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes"
}