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"id": 971156,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/971156/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Prof.) Jacquiline Oduol",
"speaker": {
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"legal_name": "Jacquiline Adhiambo Oduol",
"slug": "jacqueline-adhiambo-oduol"
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"content": "by the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare but also by other members, I would like to support and indicate that this Bill is substantial. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, however, as we look at the key issues that seem to face older members of society, largely the kind of issues that seem to face members who are seen to be vulnerable, sometimes because of age… In some cases, we find that people could be facing vulnerability because of ability, like people living with disabilities (PWDs). There are other instances when people can face vulnerability on aspects such as gender. It is important that, as we look at the Bill, we take note that we could, in the language that we use in the Bill, be rather passive and come up with a framework that might not necessarily enable us to address the core issues of concern. I raise this because looking at the concerns that older members face, we really are looking at a right because as the Mover indicated, this is a constitutional requirement. When we look at the Bill, there is a sense in which it seems largely to be focused and limited to provision of care, getting older people to be in homes and looking to see whether older persons can have other facilities. There does not seem to be very specific ways of involving or ensuring that the older people’s voice is heard as a matter of right. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we always hear persons with disabilities say there can be no decisions that will be made without their own voice. We know that when we are thinking about young people, there is a sense in which we can have a very clear stipulation to take care of their voice and their concerns. Similarly, we have largely taken note that there will be active involvement and the inclusion of the voice and concerns of those other categories. It is for this reason that, as I support this Bill, I take note that the Bill, in terms of its language, seems to be rather condescending. There does not seem to be a way in which we are connecting this Bill to the existing policy. Policy is a broad statement of priorities and there is a national policy on older persons. Even as we look at the African Union (AU) Special Treaty on the Rights of Older Persons, only five countries have signed it, and Kenya is not one of them. I, therefore, reflect as a Member of Parliament whose role is not just legislation but to ensure that the laws that we come up with do justice in representing the rights and create an enabling environment for older persons. I would have liked that this Bill goes beyond the idea of just promotion and protection that does not seem to be honed on very specific policy framework. I say this because it is clear in the Bill. We acknowledge that it is necessary to stimulate and keep the brains of the aging. It is also clear in the Bill, which I agree with, that we need to ensure we protect the elderly from abuse. It is clear that we would want to ensure that we have hearing aid and that we ensure that older persons can vote. However, I look at our country right now and I look at it in the context of what we have come through year-in, year-out. Only yesterday as we were in Session, we had Members walking in and chanting which I suppose is part of their right, but I could not help wondering whether we, as members of the society, are looking at issues from the perspective of the experience of elderly persons. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is my view that, as we deal with the care and protection of older persons, we need to go beyond looking at older persons as though we are the ones to speak for them. I feel that it is extremely important that we get a framework that allows older persons to make their own decisions and, to express their opinions. As we look particularly at the manner in which our country every so often gets embroiled in almost similar issues like corruption, tribalism, nepotism and manners in which sometimes even the very persons expected to be pulling the country together can be seen to be the very ones who seem to be pulling it apart, it is my conviction that, if we were to look at older persons and seek to draw from their rich experience, we would find that Kenya would truly benefit largely. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}