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{
    "id": 971138,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/971138/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 228,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Bomet CWR, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Joyce Korir",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 11255,
        "legal_name": "Joyce Chepkoech Korir",
        "slug": "joyce-chepkoech-korir"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Bill further puts in place measures to ensure that the national Government formulates a comprehensive national strategy or plan of actions and policies promoting the realisation of the rights of older members of the society. The county bill will be expected to establish homes and implement programmes for the care of older members of the society. The county governments, through the respective County Executive Committee (CEC) members, will be responsible for the registration of homes for older members of the society and will have to ensure that there is continuous monitoring that such homes meet the minimum safety standards. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, in consideration of the Bill, the Committee made several observations. The Bill provides for the establishment and implementation of community home-based care programmes for the elderly people in the society by county governments. The community based programmes include economic empowerment, delivery of spiritual, cultural, medical, civil and social services, promotion of health of older members of the society through provision of nutritious food and basic health services and promotion of their skills and capacities. These provisions on the enhancement of the Social Assistance Act, 2013 mandates Social Assistance Authority to provide social assistance to persons in need who include poor elderly persons without providing clear guidelines on specific assistance or care to be given to older members of the society. The Social Assistance Act, 2013 makes a provision for social assistance to only poor elderly persons, but the proposed Bill has no such distinctions. It generally seeks to provide care to all old members of the society. For a long time, older members of the society have often been neglected. They are unable to afford decent lives. This Bill seeks to fill legislative gaps to ensure the rights of the older members of the society are adequately addressed. The Bill outlines the obligations of the national Government with regard to the rights of the older members of the society. Functions of the national Government under the Bill are largely covered in the National Social Assistance Authority as established under Section 3 of the Social Assistance Act, 2013. The Authority is further mandated to carry out monitoring and evaluation, assess the impact of the programme implemented by the county governments, assess feasibility of the programme helping the older persons and putting in place mechanisms for accountability and transparency. The Committee noted that the Bill obligates the Authority to implement its obligations whose sources of funds currently do not include such monies that may be appropriated by Parliament. It is imperative that the amendment on the Social Assistance Act, 2013 be expedited to enable Parliament to provide funds to the Authority to ensure that it is enabled to implement its obligations as enumerated in the proposed Bill. The Committee noted that, other than minor, technical and cross-reference errors, the substance of the Bill was in order. In this regard, I want to assure Hon. Members that the proposals in this Bill comply with the provisions of the Constitution and the Standing Orders. I beg to move and request Hon. Omboko Milemba to second. Thank you."
}