{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=154078","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=154076","results":[{"id":1558962,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558962/?format=json","text_counter":202,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Farah Maalim","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":{"id":16,"legal_name":"Farah Maalim Mohamed","slug":"farah-maalim"},"content":" The Member for Westlands, Hon. Tim Wanyonyi."},{"id":1558963,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558963/?format=json","text_counter":203,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Westlands, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Tim Wanyonyi","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me a chance to contribute to this Bill. The objective of this Bill is to reduce poverty, vulnerability and improve the well-being of people by providing assistance. Those who need assistance are normally senior citizens, people living with disabilities and some marginalised people in very remote rural areas. Senior citizens are usually people 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":1558964,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558964/?format=json","text_counter":204,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Westlands, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Tim Wanyonyi","speaker":null,"content":"who are 60 years, but the life expectancy in this country is about 45 years. I have been paying Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) for senior citizens in my constituency. Initially, we had set the age at 60, but it was nearly impossible to get the numbers. So, we had to reduce the age to 50 and that is when the numbers rose to 200 people. Very few people are 60 or 70 years and above, and so, I recommend that we reconsider and set the age at 55 rather than 60, so that we can include more people. Many vulnerable people have not yet been included. If you go to the village, people aged 40 years look like they are 70 years old because of poverty. All these people need social support. Hon. Temporary Speaker, cash transfer to people living with disabilities targets the household instead of the individual. However, if it targeted an individual rather than the household, it would have had more impact. When it is transferred to a household, it is rare that the person gets support from that money. As we provide social protection, we need to include assistive devices for people living with disabilities to enable them to move around, especially outdoors. People who need wheelchairs will be unable to move if they do not have access to one. The number of people living with disabilities in the rural areas is very high. During the national census, the question on disability was framed wrongly; the enumerators did not get the accurate numbers of people living with disabilities. They captured very low numbers. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that people living with disabilities make up 10 per cent of the population in every country, yet in this country, we estimate it at 2.2 per cent, which is not accurate. We need to check that because it marginalises people living with disabilities, preventing them from getting the necessary support they require. Hon. Temporary Speaker, we also need to look at the number of people supported by the Government and the level of support they are getting. I believe that Ksh2,000, given the current value of the shilling, is too low. It should be raised to Ksh5,000 and the number of people expanded. Very few people from our constituencies are benefiting from the Cash Transfer Programme. We need to change the way things are done so as to include more people. The numbers are very negligible. We need to reach as many people as possible. I am also not comfortable with the cash transfer being done through chiefs. There may be a better way to do it because some chiefs do not behave well. In fact, they even make it more difficult for these people to access their money. It would be better to use the constituency offices because they can provide more accurate information and be more effective in transferring the money to the people. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support this Bill. Thank you very much."},{"id":1558965,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558965/?format=json","text_counter":205,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Farah Maalim","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":{"id":16,"legal_name":"Farah Maalim Mohamed","slug":"farah-maalim"},"content":" Hon. Phylis Bartoo."},{"id":1558966,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558966/?format=json","text_counter":206,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Hon. Liza Chelule spoke off the record)"},{"id":1558967,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558967/?format=json","text_counter":207,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Farah Maalim","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":{"id":16,"legal_name":"Farah Maalim Mohamed","slug":"farah-maalim"},"content":"The lady at the back, did you put in your card? It is not there. Can you approach the Speaker and explain? I cannot see your name here. Proceed, Hon. Bartoo."},{"id":1558968,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558968/?format=json","text_counter":208,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Moiben, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Phylis Bartoo","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to this Social Protection Bill. It is a very important Bill because it will provide a legal framework on how vulnerable people in our society will be supported. As societies progress, they create more cases of vulnerability. For instance, we had COVID-19, which affected many families. We always have insecurity and banditry. We have had calamities that have killed sources of livelihood for many people in Kenya. As a result, it is very important to have a framework to ensure that vulnerable members of our society are protected. Registration is another important issue. It is important to identify where these people are in different parts of Kenya. All along, these members of our society have been left to the 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":1558969,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558969/?format=json","text_counter":209,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Moiben, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Phylis Bartoo","speaker":null,"content":"Ministry, where the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary, and the department staff are responsible for identification and registration. However, it is a very difficult task because they are also overwhelmed by other duties in their Ministry. It is important to have a very clear-cut way of dealing with vulnerable people. We have children, women and the aged. Many times, in my constituency, I encounter these people and they are always complaining. Some have been registered and they benefit, but others do not even know that this programme exists. We also have widows. So, it is important to make the process open and clear so that registration is not dependent on knowing the chief or village elder. I wish we had a desk or a centre in every constituency where vulnerable members of our society can just walk in and get assistance. This board should have data for everyone, so that with just the touch of a button, they can know who is there. Once money has been budgeted for these members of our society, disbursement should be consistent. Consistency is very important. They should not be at the mercy of someone who decides when to disburse the money, or claims that the National Treasury has not disbursed the funds. The vulnerable have problems, therefore, no one should take advantage of them or give them funds whenever he or she wants to. The funds should be consistently disbursed. We should not just give them cash transfers. We should empower them to have livelihoods. The Government may not be able to disburse funds every time. We can put them in homes for the elderly and homes for people living with disabilities, so that we can support them as a community. It should not just be about money. Sometimes family members take advantage of those who receive cash transfers. Sometimes the elderly receive cash and then somebody else transfers that money elsewhere. I have a case in my constituency where one elderly lady committed suicide because when she received the money, her grandson transferred the money to his phone and went on a drinking spree. She had received money in the bank for three cumulative transfers. She was so excited and thought that her life was going to change. Unfortunately, when her grandson transferred the money, she lost hope and committed suicide. We should have a legal framework to streamline the cash transfer process and also support the elderly. The elderly should also be trained on financial management, so that they do not get the money and spend it within one hour or one day, and eventually end up with nothing. I have an issue with the qualifications to be a member of the Board. For one to be a member of the Board, one must have a degree and 10 years experience. That qualification made me think about our youths. Our laws should be as inclusive as possible. The earliest that one can obtain a degree in Kenya is at the age of 21 or 23. The Bill adds the qualification of 10 years’ experience. That would mean that the earliest one can serve on the Board is at the age of 33. That will lock out our young people. That qualification should be revised so that the 10 years experience does not apply because it will disadvantage the youth. I support the Bill and look forward to it being operationalised so that we help the vulnerable in society once and for all. As society progresses, we are creating a gap between the haves and have-nots, the vulnerable and those who are not. The world is very unkind. If nobody holds the hands of the vulnerable, they will just be left on their own. It is our duty as religious people and as a Government to take care of the vulnerable. It is a biblical duty to support the vulnerable."},{"id":1558970,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558970/?format=json","text_counter":210,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Farah Maalim","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":{"id":16,"legal_name":"Farah Maalim Mohamed","slug":"farah-maalim"},"content":" If we each take as little time as possible without repeating what has already been said, all Members will have an opportunity to speak because there is a lot of interest in this matter. Proceed, Hon. Tandaza."},{"id":1558971,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1558971/?format=json","text_counter":211,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Matuga, ANC","speaker_title":"Mhe. Kassim Tandaza","speaker":null,"content":" Ahsante Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Kwanza naunga mkono huu Mswada. Huu mfumo naufananisha na ule mfumo wa zakah katika dini ya Kiislamu ambao unasema wale ambao wana uwezo wana jukumu la kuwasimamia wale ambao 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."}]}