{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=157341","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=157339","results":[{"id":1591592,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1591592/?format=json","text_counter":349,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Sen. Cherarkey spoke off record)"},{"id":1591593,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1591593/?format=json","text_counter":350,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Veronica Maina","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":" Check on your microphone."},{"id":1591594,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1591594/?format=json","text_counter":351,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Cherarkey","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Madam Temporary Speaker, I am talking of Article 55 of the Constitution, which addresses the rights of young people. We have a number of young people who are yet to get opportunities. The Government is doing a lot through the affordable housing programme, the scholarship programme and education. In as much as Kenyans - and majorly the youth have a right to demonstrate under Article 37 of the Constitution - their rights only envisage peaceful demonstrations and protests. The scenes we have seen today afternoon within Nairobi City are unfortunate. This is because there is vandalism, burning of vehicles and lawlessness. Article 37 of the Constitution did not envisage such a situation. What we are seeing on our streets are acts of criminality. I urge the security agencies to deal firmly with those acts of lawlessness. No Kenyan should lose their lives or property because Article 37 of the Constitution is being violated."},{"id":1591595,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1591595/?format=json","text_counter":352,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Cherarkey","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Article 56 of the Constitution talks about minorities and marginalized groups. I agree with Sen. Ogola when she said that we must look at those who are marginalized and ensure the minorities have a say. The other day, the President pushed for identification cards to be given to minorities and marginalized people in this country, especially those in the northern part of this country. I was happy with this, but shocked that some leaders were uncomfortable with that. We all know of the Makonde Tribe from the coastal region who did not have identity. This is part of the affirmative action into what we call social protection. Article 57 of the Constitution talks of the older members of the society. We have established homes for the elderly, but our African culture dictates that the parents take care of you when you are young, and when they get old, you are supposed to take care of them. I am sure that the same happens in Murang’a County where you come from. The Catholic Church has done a commendable job by establishing homes for the old like Nyumba ya Wazee and many others. Previously, the Senate was referred to as nyumba ya wazee, but things have changed right now because majority of us, in the Senate, are young people. In as much as our culture does not advocate that we take our older parents to homecare homes or caregiving, we must be alive to the fact that there are some old people who do not have children or people to depend on. That is why Article 57 of the Constitution has provided for their rights. I need to rush through this for us to move to the Adjournment Motion. I am happy that long-term limitations, aging illness, injury and disability and caregiving have also The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."},{"id":1591596,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1591596/?format=json","text_counter":353,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Cherarkey","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"been addressed. We all know people who suffer from terminal illnesses and we must look at it. We must look at the issue of cash transfer especially when it comes to the older members of our society. In 2024, we had 1.7 million people registered under Inua JamiiProgramme . That money is paid through e-Citizen. I thank the Government for that initiative. Those people receive Kshs2,000 per month on their M-Pesa through the e- Citizen Programme. Safaricom and other agencies have done very well. I saw Safaricom deny their role in providing locations of the suspects when the police are looking for them. I want to believe them and to call upon Safaricom and other telecommunication companies in the country not to reveal any personal details because that will be infringing on the right to privacy. They do a good job, but we must deter them from going into an unholy alliance of revealing personal details of any Kenyan. Madam Temporary Speaker, you are a senior counsel in this country and you know that such information can only be provided when there is a court order. In 2023, 1.5 million people were under the Government social support of Inua Jamii Programme . They are under social programmes and I will just run through. There is the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC), the Older Persons Cash Transfer (OPCT) now known as Inua Jamii Senior Citizens' Scheme, where each receives Kshs2,000 and the Persons with Severe Disability Cash Transfer (PWSD-CT) Programme, which involves caregiving."},{"id":1591597,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1591597/?format=json","text_counter":354,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Cherarkey","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"The setup of this Board is very critical. As a country, we must be realistic and deliberate in providing social health and social protection mechanisms that can protect the vulnerable in the society. The true test of a nation is not the wealth, military hardware, democracy or our fluency in English or Kiswahili. The true test of a nation is how it treats the vulnerable in the society."},{"id":1591598,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1591598/?format=json","text_counter":355,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Cherarkey","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"The Government is struggling to raise revenue. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has projected to collect around Kshs2 trillion and the budget has a deficit with Kshs4.2 trillion. We agree there are challenges, but we must take care of the vulnerable in the society through cash transfer and feeding programmes. I appeal to the nation that we must take care of the vulnerable in our society because it is their right."},{"id":1591599,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1591599/?format=json","text_counter":356,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Cherarkey","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"You and I are some of the distinguished lawyers in this country. I pursued my Master’s degree in Constitutional Law and Governance at the University of Nairobi. We, therefore, must be alive to right inherent and no one should be denied their right. The Professor of Human Rights, Dr. Mutakha Kangu, taught me white rights, civil rights, political rights and human rights. The establishment of this Board is important. As we read the budget, we must factor in these factors."},{"id":1591600,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1591600/?format=json","text_counter":357,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Cherarkey","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"I am running through in order for us to have time for my colleagues to contribute to this Bill. I appeal to the Senate Majority Leader that we should amend Clause 23 because we are legislating ourselves out of business. It says such monies as may be appropriated by the National Assembly for the purposes of the Board. I invite the Senate Majority Leader to Article 249(3) of the 2010 Constitution, which says Parliament shall appropriate monies to independent commissions and others within the law. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."},{"id":1591601,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1591601/?format=json","text_counter":358,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Cherarkey","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Allow me to say this for the benefit of the HANSARD and the record. We need to amend this provision of the law because Parliament as per Article 93 of the Constitution is the Senate and the National Assembly. It says Parliament shall allocate adequate funds to enable each commission and independent office to perform its functions and budget of each commission and it shall be a separate vote."}]}