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"id": 1518602,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "You may proceed Hon. Kimilu. Yes, Hon. Eve Obara."
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"id": 1518603,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kabondo Kasipul, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Eve Obara",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Okay. The grandson is Harry Obara."
},
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"id": 1518604,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1518604/?format=api",
"text_counter": 69,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Hon. Kimilu, you may proceed."
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{
"id": 1518605,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1518605/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kaiti, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Joshua Kimilu",
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"content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I was in top gear before I was interrupted by the grandson. I also welcome him here. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I was trying to explain who a social worker is. A social worker handles distinct children and gives hope to our youth as they navigate the challenges of contemporary society. A social worker also empowers our very needy women in society. They also fight for their rights and seek justice for the voiceless, among many others. In villages, social workers are all over trying to assist the voiceless. I want to talk about social work, education, and training in Kenya. It has grown tremendously since Independence in 1963. Several public and private universities today have undergraduate and postgraduate social workers training programme. Graduates from those training programmes constitute the social service workforce in Kenya. The Bill will, therefore, help regulate the provision of social workers services, which have for a long time been provided in a disjointed ad hoc manner, despite the existence of social workers training programmes. Let me speak about some of the roles and designations of social workers. Those are programme officers, researchers on social issues, social welfare officers, social planners, extension workers and community mobilisers. This one is common in the counties because social workers mobilise communities. They are also gender mainstreaming advocates. In addition, they are rehabilitation specialists, probation and alternative correction officers and child welfare officers Social workers also work in medical and psychiatric settings as medical social workers and mental healthcare workers. If you go to our hospitals, especially Kenyatta National Hospital, you get social workers are in all the wards dealing with the welfare of the sick people. The Bill will also help regulate social work practice. Those areas have been infiltrated by personnel without prerequisite training in social work and social service. That is why we want to align the Bill with the law so that we can avoid every other person saying he or she is a social worker. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1518606,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1518606/?format=api",
"text_counter": 71,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kaiti, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Joshua Kimilu",
"speaker": null,
"content": "With the Social Work Bill in place, the social service workforce in both the public and private sectors will be improved tremendously, alongside the social service beneficiaries. The professionalisation of social work services in the social service sector will now be prioritised and enhanced. Once the Bill becomes law, social workers who will be rendering those services will be required to operate in conformity with the values of their profession and ethical standards therein. If put in place, the value and quality of services provided will be improved and the dignity of the clientele enhanced. This will also provide sound service ethos in the social service sector, just as it happens in other professions like engineering, human resources, law and medicine. That is because they have organisations that regulate those sectors. A major outcome of this Bill is that it will provide the Government, through the line ministry, with tangible indicators for the performance and contracting of their staff in the social service sector. A specific section in the Bill for additional training for those wishing to serve as social workers is an important provision for the staff development of the social service profession in Kenya. This will, therefore, make staff more accountable and provide clear measures to streamline social service provision in Kenya. Equally important, is the fact that with the passing of this Bill, social worker service in Kenya will be more accountable and respected, just as it happens in other countries that have social work service Acts in place, like the USA. I was there last year in October and I went through their Act. I noted that it has helped the country. It is also in Zimbabwe. In South Africa, the South African Social Service Profession Act 110 of 1978 provides for the establishment of the Social Workers Professional Association. Other countries that have a similar law are Singapore and Canada. The Bill will also bring order and provide tangible mechanisms to address cases of indiscipline or misconduct among some of the social welfare workers. The regulation in place and the structure specified in the Bill to address such cases will, in turn, ensure that the social welfare services by social workers are rendered in a highly professional manner. This, by extension, will also enhance discipline and commitment of social workers and staff in the civil service and also in the private sector. Social workers are key agents of change in Kenya's development governance structure with regard to the implementation of Government’s social and welfare policies at the national level, and in county governments, where they serve as community development officers and mobilisers, social protection officers, social development officers and child protection officers. Social workers are in courts, hospitals and in counties doing a tremendous job. Hon. Deputy Speaker, allow me, very briefly, to summarise the critical benefits of the proposed Institute of Social Work Professionals Bill. The Bill will thrive better if it is regulated by the law, as is the case with other professions like, as I said, law, medicine, engineering and many others. The Institute of Social Work Professionals Bill will also ensure that the contribution of social workers towards Kenya's socio-economic development is recognised through professional delivery of social services. Social workers will be empowered to effectively contribute to the Government development agenda and the social welfare obligation for the people of Kenya, as specified in the Constitution of Kenya. Social workers will be empowered to effectively contribute to the Government’s development. The Bill will also solidify the broad contribution of social workers in the social pillar of Kenya Vision 2030, and the Government's Big Four Agenda. Hon. Deputy Speaker, the Bill will also give social workers a strong voice in the events towards realisation of the global Sustainable Development Goals, to which Kenya is a significant signatory and is committed. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1518607,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1518607/?format=api",
"text_counter": 72,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kaiti, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Joshua Kimilu",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Through the Institute of Social Work Professionals Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.17 of 2023), social worker practitioners and consumers of social work services will be protected from unethical and incompetent personnel who have over the years undertaken social work responsibilities to the negative effect of social workers' clientele. Since Independence, social workers have made efforts to have such a Bill enacted, and the time has come. I want to encourage Members and my colleagues in this House to support the Bill because it will help social work practitioners to be regulated in terms of training and practice. They will also have their practice entitlements such as licensing and proper regulation in line with the global trade and social work provisions. Social work services can be accessed and delivered efficiently since a clear ethical code of practice governing the profession of social work will be adhered to. Social work will be protected. Research in the social work profession, with requisite training and sound social work values, will be based on professionalism. The proposed Institute of Social Work Professionals Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.17 of 2023), is crucial in maximising the enhancement of professional social work services and social work training in Kenya. Our society will greatly benefit if the provision of social services by social workers is well-regulated and backed up by law. I went round my constituency of Kaiti to meet with social workers. Thousands of them appeared and asked me: ‘‘ Mheshimiwa, how can you make this dream a reality?’’ I want to thank the Departmental Committee on Social Protection for the support they have given to this Bill. When I appeared before the Committee, Members received my constituents’ input positively. We contributed a lot to this Bill. I thank the Chairperson, Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a, Members of the Committee and Kenyans for the support they have given to this Bill. As I said, Kenyans appeared in large numbers during the public participation on this Bill. I also got so many messages on my phone from people trying to contribute and asking about this Bill. I want to thank all the Kenyans who contributed to this Bill. I want to tell them that it is time for them to see this Bill through. Some Members of this House have social work background, and they interact with social workers on the ground. I know that those Members also need to give their contribution. Hon. Millie Odhiambo and myself did a lot together for this Bill to become a reality. She is in the House. I want to request her to second the Bill."
},
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"id": 1518608,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Hon. Members, with your permission, before the Seconder proceeds to second the Bill, because we value our children who come here, we need to recognise them before they leave the Public Gallery. I would like to recognise the presence of students from JM Kariuki Secondary School from Bahati Constituency, Nakuru County."
},
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"id": 1518609,
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"text_counter": 74,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Applause)"
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"id": 1518610,
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"text_counter": 75,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I call upon Hon. Irene Mrembo Njoki, the Member for Bahati, to welcome them on our behalf."
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Bahati, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Irene Njoki",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I warmly welcome the students of JM Kariuki Secondary School from Bahati Constituency. The school was named after the late JM Kariuki. As their Member of Parliament, I want to request them to work hard. I fully support you. I commit myself to ensuring that you get the best from whatever we provide. Let me also thank the teachers for ensuring that they fulfilled the dream of these students by bringing them to Parliament. For those of us who come from rural areas, this is not something that is simple. It motivates the students. I want to assure them that we will continue to work with them. All I expect from them is hard work and commitment to ensure that they become doctors, lawyers, Members of Parliament, speakers, et cetera . I wish you a fruitful visit."
}
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