Hon. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:-

THAT, aware that the National Youth Council (NYC) was established by the National Youth Council Act, 2009; further aware that the council was gazetted in November 2012; concerned that the Treasury is yet to release the required funds to establish the Council’s secretariat as provided by Section 10 of the Act; noting that the Council is unable to perform its functions as stated in Section 4 of the Act due to lack of funds thus disadvantaging the youth of this country, this House urges the Government to immediately allocate and release funds to the Council for it to discharge its mandate.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:-

THAT, aware that the number of girls dropping out of school is very high in the arid and semi arid areas (ASALs) because of the limited number of schools in these areas; concerned that most of the girls dropping out of school opt for early marriages thus affecting the education standards of the girl child; noting that the lack of boarding schools in most of these areas has greatly contributed to increased number of school drop outs, this House urges the Government to establish girl boarding schools for both primary and secondary in all ASAL areas.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:-

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Hon. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:-

THAT, aware that now the dissolved local authorities across the country were owed huge debts by the Government agencies and departments; further noting that the Government has not remitted payments in lieu of rates, rent, water and way leaves among others; deeply concerned that those debts were amounting to approximately Kshs3 billion as of 2011, with no payment forthcoming; also aware that the new county governments are expected to take over those debts and most of the expected revenue allocations they will receive could go towards payment of those historical debts, this House urges the national Government to speedily pay outstanding rates, rent, water and other arrears owed to the county governments to prevent resources meant for development to be used to pay off outstanding debts.

The next notice of Motion will be from hon. Kinoti. Where is he? He is absent not desiring to be present? We will go to the next one by hon. Gitari. He is also not here. We will now go to hon. Ganya. He is not also here so we will go to hon. Njomo.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:- THAT, aware that the Industrial Training Act, 2007 provides for deduction and submission of levy from each employee by the employer to the Industrial Training Levy Fund to facilitate the training of persons involved in the industry; concerned with the increasing high number of apprentices engaging in drugs and alcohol abuse after programmes due to lack of employment; noting further that the youth continue to have limited access to training and employment opportunities, this House urges the Government to enforce compliance with Article 55 of the Constitution and Vision 2030 in regard to the youth by expanding the structure of the funds to include SMEs and setting up a fund for the purpose of utilizing part of the Industrial Training Levy Fund to provide capital for apprentices who

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The last will be hon. (Ms.) Ali. She is not here? We will go to the next Order!

This is a Motion by hon. Farah; it is resumption of debate interrupted on Thursday. Who was on the Floor? The person who was then on the Floor is hon. Shimbwa with a balance of six minutes. If he is not there as appears to be the case, any other hon. Member may stand to contribute.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, this being my first time to speak in Bunge, I would like to thank the people of Makueni for electing me to this Eleventh Parliament and also contribute to this Motion. Hon. Farah has moved this Motion in relation to the growth of livestock in ASAL areas. I would like to contribute to the effect that I support this Motion and indicate that many farmers, especially the ones who were organized in co-operatives while rearing livestock, take insurance with the Co-operative Insurance Company and are compensated in case of loss of livestock due to drought. But I support his idea that the Government should establish a livestock insurance fund to cushion livestock not only in ASAL areas, but also where livestock is reared in production so that, as a country, we could sell our products outside the country in a more definite way. It was towards the very last moments of Kenya Meat Commission, or when the KMC was on its death bed and this answers the question on the quality of meat, which is sometimes not acceptable at the international

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Yes, hon. Gichigi.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Motion and thank the Mover, hon. Farah, for bringing it to the House. My comments are that it is true that farmers keep on suffering due to persistent drought. I would wish to urge the Government to widen the scope of livestock insurance to include other areas where livestock rearing as well as crop husbandry take place. Where I come from, in Kipipiri, Nyandarua County; we have perennial problems with crops. Therefore, that is an area where the Government should consider taking care of by way of insurance and training of farmers on modern methods of farming like the use of greenhouses. Hon. Speaker, Sir, the perennial problem of livestock dying during the dry season is a phenomenon that will always be with us. Therefore, we need to find permanent solutions. If we know that something happens every now and then, the way forward is having mitigation steps being taken rather than taking insurance for such problems. We know that in every rainy season, our country suffers from flooding. Most of the ASAL areas can be supplied with water from the rivers emanating from Mount Kenya and other water catchment areas. The Government should supply water to those areas at regular intervals. We need not come here every now and then to say that our livestock are dying and continue to watch the drought-related video clips that we see on television. Another big problem we are facing as a country is that we are just about to exhaust our water resources. We are destroying all our water catchment areas. We do not bother about serious water harvesting. This is an area where the Government ought to act. Let us preserve our water towers and harvest our rain water and make sure that we avail it to ASAL areas. With a regular water supply, this particular problem is likely to come to an end. With those remarks, I support the Motion.

Yes, Bishop Mutua.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, my full name is Bishop Robert Mutemi Mutua. I am glad to have an opportunity to contribute to this particular Motion.

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Thank you, hon. Speaker. I stand to oppose this Motion. The insurance being talked about is something that we know for sure may not work. The harsh climatic conditions are a common occurrence in those areas. The Arabian counties are dry areas but they produce enough food even for export. With good technology, we can do a lot with our dry areas. We need to drill water and dig dams. We need to get a permanent solution for those areas. Insurance of livestock will not be the permanent solution that we may be looking for. I beg to oppose.

I am pleased to contribute to this Motion particularly because it concerns the animal industry which is the mainstay of people in the ASAL areas and many other places in the country. An insurance cover for animals might be a cumbersome process for supporting the ASAL people when it comes to losses of animals during drought and other disasters. I would propose that we amend the Motion so that we introduce a fund or systems which would support the farmers when it comes to drought. We have got technology and people who foretell when there will be drought. The Government can start a system where cows can be reduced. They can be bought from the farmers and slaughtered and meat exported so that we do not lose them; like it has been happening. There are communities which are losing cows through cattle rustling. The Government should also have a mechanism to compensate those people who lose their cows when they have been stolen by their neighbours. They need to put up mechanisms to maintain security in those areas. Equally, this cattle industry is neglected. When it

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Thank you, hon. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very important Motion. On the outset, I want to thank the hon. Member for coming up with this idea. All those people who are not for this insurance fund are not really livestock farmers. Some of us who come from ASAL areas feel the pinch when people do not give livestock farmers the attention they deserve. Livestock farmers in this country are the most neglected people and yet, all of us look for meat when we go for lunch or dinner. Where does that meat come from? It comes from the livestock farmers and yet, we do not give them the attention that they require. The insurance that the hon. Member is speaking about is very important. Insurance firms will surely support farmers. When there is an insurance fund, the livestock farmers will be supported through construction of dams or on improvement of pasture. They have to ensure that facilities are there. They have to ensure that veterinary services are available. At the moment, they are not there. The rest of the farmers are given the support that they require. If you look at the maize and coffee farmers, they get more support from insurance firms or other organizations because they have a worldwide market. We can even have worldwide market for livestock farmers because all of us need meat. I want to support the Motion and say that we need to give our livestock farmers the attention that they deserve. I will even go further and say that this House should form a committee to look into this issue and bring a report. We can discuss and pass it. We can even draft a Bill on this so that livestock farmers are given the attention that they deserve. I want all of us in this House to support this Motion and a Bill is brought so that we make it a law that livestock farmers must be insured. With those remarks, I beg to support.

Thank you hon. Speaker, Sir. I rise to support the Motion, but I do not think getting the insurance alone will help the animals or the people in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). People would just relax and wait for that insurance.

Just a second, hon. Member. Just for record purposes, introduce yourself

My name is Dorcas Kedogo, the Vihiga County Women Representative. I was just saying that some measures have been put in place. Let the people of ASAL look for a way of getting fodder; get a factory or a store where they can stock food for the animals. Let them make a dam somewhere where the animals can get enough water. So, unless we put measures in place, we will be cheating ourselves by just saying: “Let us have the insurance.” So, I would urge the Government to put measures in place before giving the insurance. Otherwise, I support the Motion. Thank you.

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Thank you very much, hon. Speaker, Sir. My name is Rose Rwamba Mitaru from Embu County. I stand to support the Motion. I am very serious on this Motion because most of us, when we need food and particularly animal protein, we look for those people. They give us the animals, milk and meat. When we come to the school feeding programmes, we need the same people to sell their cattle, goats, sheep and camel in order to feed those children in schools. When drought strikes in this country--- We are aware that most land in Kenya is arable and agricultural. It takes only 10 per cent of the whole of Kenya. Do we not need people who are taking care of livestock to feed this nation? Hon. Speaker, Sir, concerning the issue of health in this country, when there is drought, women and children suffer most in those parts of the country. That is because they do not have animals to sell and even milk and, therefore, they are left with virtually nothing. Even the rivers in those areas dry up and they are left completely desperate. All of us in Kenya look at them and wonder why they are not farming or harvesting the hay so that they can keep it for their animals. If people are hungry, how can they take care of their animals? In Kenya, drought comes along with harsh conditions. I believe we need insurance and all of us should stand and support people in ASAL areas so that Kenya can improve on health, economy, education and the financial sector. Many people in this country depend on livestock. Let us all support this Motion so that people in ASAL areas can have not just money, but food and good health.

Those of you who are standing are out of order. Continue hon. Kedogo!

Hon. Speaker, I support the Motion.

Hon. Nkaisserry, you are an old hon. Member of this House and it is not fair that you will be the one to lead--- Hon. Nkaisserry, make your contribution.

Thank you very much hon. Speaker. Let me begin by thanking hon. Farah for bringing this very important Motion which affect almost all the people in ASAL areas, especially the pastoralists. Hon. Farah saw the need for this fund and I want my colleagues to understand that this is not commercial insurance. Hon. Farah’s Motion urges the Government to establish a livestock insurance fund which can be under any Ministry, be it Agriculture, Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) or any other body. There should be something to cushion livestock farmers. Hon. Speaker, the main economic activity for ASAL people is livestock and it is their economic mainstay. Drought has continued to diminish that economic mainstay. For example, hon. Bishop Mutua has just mentioned that when farmers take loans from AFC and their animals are wiped out by drought, they were left poor. For example, in Kajiado County, we are almost getting marginalized because the lives of our people are being destroyed and they have no other means of economic survival apart from selling land, which has caused a lot of migration. If this fund was in place to cushion those people, I am sure we would not be having the issue of migrants

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You will pardon me, if I have not gotten your name. Yes, hon. Alfred Wekesa Sambu.

Thank you hon. Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute. I am glad you know all my names. I rise to support this Motion. When I look at some of the countries in Africa like Botswana, which has similar climatic conditions like what we have in Northern Kenya particularly, produce some of the best meat in the world simply because they have policies, commitment and the urge to do their best for livestock farmers. In this country, we do not seem to have the same commitment and the same urge. All we do is make decisions which we forget the next day and that is very sad. Hon. Speaker, I am happy because last year, I was a member of the Budget Committee. The budget process in this country is now in the hands of Members of Parliament and the people of Kenya. I remember when we were going round in various parts of this country asking Kenyans what they would like to spend their money on. In Northern Kenya, they talked about water, water, water and water. They talked about the creation of livestock training centres or livestock colleges and slaughter houses for their livestock. That is because if you have livestock, you will have to carry it all the way to Athi River here in Nairobi. The livestock will not be feeding along the way and half of them will die thus causing a big loss. So, they talked about constructing dams to get water and pasture for their animals. I remember we made provisions for that request in our budget. I think this year, during the budget time, we shall ask the Executive what they did with those things which were approved by Parliament. It is very nice for those items to be approved, but it is a different thing all together for them to be implemented. We also have a major oversight role. We should ensure that what we pass here in Parliament is actually implemented. In fact, we have the Implementation Committee and that Committee should ensure that what we pass here is actually implemented. Last year, we approved a lot of money for the support of those kinds of programmes and I wonder whether the college, dams and slaughter houses are in place. When we come to look at the Budget for this year, I urge you to look at this and find out what happened to the money we approved last year for those kinds of projects. With those few remarks, I support.

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You know, livestock is all over even in the City. So, let us get Simba.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, Sir. I am hon. Simba Arati, Member for Dagoretti North. The word I have is with the Jubilee Government and the animals that we saw yesterday outside Parliament and some inscribed the name of the Leader of Majority. As I support the Motion, my big question is whether Jubilee is really ready to support this kind of noble project that we need. I do not think so because Jubilee did not, at any time in its campaign trail, show its intention towards the pastoralists. So, I doubt whether the Jubilee Government will deliver. I grew up in Bura and---

On a point of order, hon. Speaker, Sir. Pursuant to the Standing Order Nos. 83 and 85, is it in order for hon. Simba to allege that the Jubilee Government is not serious in assisting the livestock farmers? He knows very well that the Jubilee Manifesto has clearly and unequivocally stated that it intends to assist livestock farmers. I would like to request you to rule hon. Simba out of order. That is the reason why he lives in the City and he does not know anything about livestock.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, we are yet to see what the Jubilee Government will offer in terms of their manifesto. I believe those are only theoretical.

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker, Sir. It is in order for the hon. Rat to continue discussing the Jubilee Government---

Order, hon. Angwenyi! He is not a rat. He is Arati. It is one continuous name and not rat.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, is it in order for hon. Arati to continue discussing Jubilee as if Jubilee is in the Motion? Can he not confine himself to discussing the Motion before us? If he wants to discuss the Jubilee Government, he should bring a substantive Motion to discuss it in the House.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I believe I am in order given the fact that Jubilee happens to pretend because they “stole” the elections of ODM or CORD.

On a point or order, hon. Speaker, Sir. Is it in order for the Member to allege that the Jubilee Government stole the elections when he knows that we received a ruling from the Supreme Court and they agreed with the ruling of the Chief Justice? In law, he who alleges must prove. If he cannot prove that the elections were stolen, which they have failed to do, then they should forever remain silent. He should apologize.

Hon. Simba, because of engaging in side shows, you are going to spend all your time having said nothing to the Motion. Why can you not just stick to the Motion? Make your contribution either in support or in opposition.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, despite the fact that my cows happen to be Jubilee---

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker, Sir. Is hon. Simba in order to refer to Jubilee Members as his cows? He should apologize and withdraw the remarks.

Hon. Simba, did you call the other Members cows?

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I did not say that unless they understood me wrongly.

No way! He said that!

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Hon. Members, just relax! Hon. Simba, if you referred to your colleagues on the other side as cows---

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I did not say that.

Sit down! You must learn the rules of the House. If you referred to your colleagues on the other side as cows and you are not willing to withdraw, I will check with the HANSARD by afternoon and if it is confirmed that you referred to your colleagues as cows, you will face the wrath of the Chair. So, you can take this opportunity to either withdraw if you said it, but if you did not, you have nothing to withdraw.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, if, indeed, they heard it, I want to withdraw, but I did not say it.

No! No! Hon. Simba, it is whether you referred to your colleagues as cows and not if they heard it. You have no business to refer to anybody as a cow.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I withdraw and apologise.

Proceed.

Thank you, hon. Speaker, Sir. Given that the cows from Maasailand roam in Nairobi every time, I would want to say that these are double initiatives.

You may resume your seat. Your time is over. The hon. Member for Ndaragwa.

Thank you, hon. Speaker, Sir. I stand to support the Motion and I wish that the Government pumps in more money into the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC). We know that if they are given more money, they can enhance their capacity of storing processed meat and this will go a long way in enhancing food production in this country. On the same note, I would wish to urge KMC to open more branches. My only hope is that the Mover of the Motion will bring in a Bill that will also include cows and livestock that die because of cold and frost, particularly in the central part of Kenya. It is not that cows only die in the semi-arid areas. On the same note, my concern is with the Transition Authority (TA). The Chairman of TA is on record as having instructed all the county assemblies in this country to maintain their bank accounts with only Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and National Bank of Kenya (NBK) while we know that the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), in its wisdom, has directed all county assemblies to open accounts with about ten banks. So, I wish that TA adheres to that directive and not coerce county assemblies to open bank accounts with only two banks in this country. I stand to support the Motion.

We now need to hear the voice of a lady. That one! The short one!

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I have a name.

Please announce it.

My name is Rachel Ameso Amolo representing the people of Kakamega. I am a Member of Parliament, Kakamega County. Yes, I am short.

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Thank you. You could not be otherwise because the House does not admit strangers easily. So, I know you are a Member of Parliament seated there but I did know your name. But, at least, I had forgotten it.

Okay, hon. Speaker, Sir. For all of us who are here and are short, please take note of that. Let the Speaker get to know your name. Otherwise, you will be forced to climb on top of these tables to be seen.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I want to thank you for this opportunity. I am looking at the issue that we are discussing this morning about the semi-arid areas. I believe what is important here is to get to the core root of this problem. Now that we know the problem is harsh climate, the Government should fund this project so that instead of insuring those cows, we should insure the machineries that are supposed to be put in place in the slaughter houses and in the dams, so that we can keep on having cows. Otherwise, if we start insuring the cows and they keep on dying, the next day we will not have anything to insure. So, we should look at the machinery that we need to put in place so that the cows can continue to be there and we can continue eating meat. We Kenyans love meat. We cannot do without meat even in a single minute. So, we should look at the machinery that we can have in every area so that we can also create employment for the people in those semi-arid areas so that they can be in one area. Let us look for funds to maintain them in one place instead of them moving from one area to another area. So, I believe that by pumping funds in those areas, we will be ensuring a long lasting solution than insuring those cows. Tomorrow, you might go there and not get that same cow because when you insure something, you also look at the value of that cow. Today the cow might be weighing---

On a point of order, hon. Speaker, Sir. There is a tendency here in this House to define livestock as being only cows. I have not heard even a single person speak about camels. Can you find out whether in this House livestock is only defined as cattle?

Hon. Shill, I am sure you want to prosecute that particular point by claiming it to be a point of order. But allow the hon. Members to express themselves and then you will have your chance.

On a point of information, hon. Speaker, Sir.

Who do you want to inform?

I want to inform the hon. Member.

Does she want the information?

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I do not need information.

You need it.

I do not need it.

Resume your seat, hon. Angwenyi then.

Thank you, hon. Shill for letting me know that camels are also livestock. But when we talk about a slaughterhouse, it is one for all the animals. So,

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Hon. Juma Zuleikha Hassan.

Thank you, hon. Speaker, Sir. This is my maiden speech. First, I would like to thank God for bringing me to this House and also thank my party for nominating me to this House. I do not think it is also going to be late for me to congratulate you for being elected the Speaker of this noble House. I stand to support this Motion wholeheartedly because I am a pastoralist. I was educated with money derived from those animals. I drank the milk and ate the meat to be able to grow and be where I am today. Pastoralism is no longer a way of livelihood but it is an economic activity. In the Jubilee Manifesto, the Government wants to grow the economy of this country to double digits within a very short time. I do not think it will be easy for us when we have no export market oriented approach for the livestock industry. At the moment, our camels are taken to the Ethiopian side of Moyale in order to be sold to Saudi Arabia and Yemen. We do not get any revenue from that activity. Our animals are being exported to Mauritius by our businessmen who did not have any support from the past Governments. But it is the initiative of the same businessmen to take the animals because of the drought in the northern part of the country to the Coast region, where they have rented ranches which are idle and owned by people who do not conduct any economic activity on them, but who have been given notices. They have been give notices and told that by 16th of this month, because of a wildlife/human conflict, they have to move out. Those animals are being kept there for beef. They are taken to Mauritius and they bring us cash; but it is unfortunate. I am passionate about wildlife. Other animals are being brought in day in, day out. That is a problem in this country. It is unfortunate that, today, we are targeting the people who farm in those areas. They have taken their animals there and now, they are being told to move more than 100,000

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Let us have the lady from Kwale; pardon me for forgetting your name.

Bw. Spika, kwa majina naitwa Zena Chidzuga, na nawakilisha wananchi wa Kwale.

Nimesimama kuchangia Hoja hii kwa sababu sehemu ninayotoka ni kame. Wanyama wetu wamekufa; wanyama wetu hawafi tu kwa sababu ya mafuriko, bali pia kwa sababu ya njaa na maradhi. Tegemeo langu katika kuunga mkono Hoja hii si tu ili wafugaji wapate bima, lakini naomba Hoja hii ifanyiwe ukarabati ili kuwe na unyunyuziaji maji maeneo kame. Hili likifanyika watu wetu watakuwa na nyasi za kutosha kulisha mifugo yao. Wafugaji wenzetu walio katika sehemu za Kasikazini Mashariki mwa nchi huishia kuja sehemu zetu kwa sababu kwetu nyasi huchukua muda kukauka. Kule kuja kwao huchangia ukosefu wa usalama. Wakati mwingine wakija hata hawaombi ruhusa kulisha mifugo wao huko kwetu. Wao huleta wanyama wao na kuwaingiza katika mashamba ya watu, kisha fujo hutokea.

Kwa hivyo, inafaa Hoja hii irekebishwe kuitaka Serikali itoe pesa za kutosha kujenga mabwawa katika kila sehemu yenye wanyama kwa wingi. Mabwawa haya hayatamsaidia tu mfugaji, bali yatawasaidia wananchi wengine kupata chakula kwa kunyunyuzia mashamba yao maji. Kwa njia hiyo, tutakuwa tumeua ndege kumi kwa jiwe moja.

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Thank you, hon. Speaker, Sir, for recognizing me at last. This Motion would not have come here at a better time than now. If you do not know, we in Mount Elgon keep animals; we are livestock farmers. I know that because we are in Western Province, most people think we do not keep livestock. In fact, we do so.

The only way the Government can be provoked into providing services, which include water and pans and boreholes, is through a Motion on insurance like this one. Once the Government knows it has to restock animals for us in case of drought and when our animals die, it will ensure that there is enough water and pasture. The only way the Government can be provoked into providing services, which include water, pans and drilling boreholes is this Motion on insurance. Once the Government gets to know that they have to re-stock livestock in case of drought as animals die, that is when they will move in and ensure that there is enough water and pasture. We have discussed about subsidies to the farmers. There have not been any subsidies to the livestock farmers. So, this is the time that the livestock farmer will, at least, get subsidies so long as we put that particular requirement for the Government to insure the animals. That is because it will ensure that there is enough fodder at affordable price for livestock farmers. Some of my colleagues have talked about insurance being an expensive facility. Insurance is not an expensive facility, if the Government takes it responsibility seriously. One of the responsibilities that the Government has to take seriously is the issue of extension officers within the livestock farming areas.

Order! Hon. Mpuru Aburi! Read Standing Order No.104. You are not supposed to be walking around as if you are in a farm!

Thank you, hon. Speaker, Sir, for cautioning that particular hon. Member. All I am saying is that the only way we can cushion livestock farmers is to ensure that there is accountability as far as their animals are concerned. The accountability will be there only if the Government also takes livestock farmers seriously, and if there will be an insurance. For that insurance to take place, the Government will have to know how many animals we are talking about. What kind of livestock are we talking about? That cannot come on a silver platter. It will come after the Government realizes that it has a responsibility of either re-stocking in case of animals dying or ensuring that there is enough water through irrigation, drilling water boreholes or providing water pans. I want to urge this House to pass this Motion because it will ensure that there is enough security

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Hon. Members, I will give you a chance to speak, but I would like to make this point clear. It is in your own Standing Orders – Standing Order No.104. Every Member who is contributing has a chance to contribute uninterrupted. It reads:-

“Except when passing to and from his or her seat or when speaking, every Member, when in the Chamber, shall be seated, and shall not at any time stand in any of the passages and gangways.”

That way, everybody who is contributing gets the attention of everyone. Once we have everyone consulting and moving from here and standing like hon. Mpuru Aburi was doing, it will cause disruptions and, therefore, the attention of the other Members is disrupted from what the hon. Member may be saying. It is just for the orderly conduct of business in the House. Thank you.

The hon. Member for Uriri.

Thank you, hon. Speaker, Sir. My name is hon. (Eng.) Kobado, Member of Parliament for Uriri. Some of us are vertically disadvantaged, and so we do not seem to be catching your eye very fast. I am making my maiden speech. Allow me to thank the people of Uriri for electing me to represent them in Parliament. I also wish to take this opportunity to extend a word of congratulations to you on your election as the Speaker of the Eleventh Parliament. Hon. Speaker, Sir, with regard to the Motion, I stand to support it. Livestock is vital to the economy of a growing nation like Kenya. Animals are a source of food; animals are a source of income; animals are a source of employment and animals are a means of transport. I am thinking of camels. Animals, possibly, are a source of foreign exchange earnings. Livestock, therefore, has a very key role in spurring economic growth, considering the fact that the majority of our poor citizens live in the rural areas. There is, therefore, need to provide a framework for managing loss of livestock. When we talk about problems affecting the livestock sector, the critical influence on economic development is restricted to some parts of Kenya. We may think that when we talk about livestock and drought, we are only referring to the northern part of this country. That equally affects even the western side of this country. In the constituency that I represent of Uriri, there are some arid and semi-arid areas. Some areas of Nyatike are semi-arid. That is in Migori County. I am even being reminded of Suba. There is, therefore, need to provide quality, affordable and relevant solutions that will provide a life line in the event of a loss. Those losses negatively impact on the GDP and even economic growth. So, when we address the issue of livestock losses, we have to take cognizance of the fact that, that could affect the economic growth in this country. There is need to develop livestock insurance programmes. That insurance would require a strong legal and institutional framework. The legal framework will create an environment for development of livestock insurance. There is need for the Government to come up with a comprehensive risk management framework, which will address the issues that are impacting on livestock mortality in this country.

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On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir.

You will sit down mheshimiwa because this is a maiden speech. In any case, I do not really see what is out of order. He is contributing.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for protecting me. In management, we have a common principle called the 80/20 Principle. This principle is about the law of critical few and trivial many. You will find in practice that 20 per cent of your clothes are worn 80 per cent of the time, or 20 per cent of your friends cause 80 per cent of your problems. Therefore 20 per cent of Members of Parliament in this House represent 80 per cent of the interests of Kenyans out there.

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(Hon. Cheboi

On a point of order, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I for sure do not want to challenge your ruling, because I know that is the procedure. However, given that the majority of us are really willing to debate this Motion, is it possible to reduce the time to one minute per speaker, so that many of us are able to contribute?

Even if we did that, we would still get to the end of it. You know every Motion has three hours. We now have about ten minutes to go. I can see the interest, but unfortunately, there is nothing much we will do. However, do contribute hon. Letimalo. Remember that you have the option of contributing even for ten seconds. If you decide to follow what you actually requested, hon. Members will benefit.

Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to agree with my colleagues who have said that we need to appreciate that over 80 per cent of Kenya’s land mass is actually arid and semi-arid. The main economic activity in these ASAL areas is livestock rearing. That is what actually constitutes family income and food security. It is important to note that the livestock subsector earns the country substantial foreign exchange through export of live animals, hides and skins, dairy products and raw materials for the agro industry. This subsector has continually faced major challenges. In my view, this livestock subsector has not performed well. This is because right from Independence the subsector has been faced with splits and merges to the extent that when the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Livestock are merged into one devolvement efforts seem to be inclined towards agriculture and the livestock side is neglected. The Jubilee Government has shown interest in having a lean Government and the two sides, that is agriculture and livestock, have been merged again. The Government needs to show interest by promoting livestock production and veterinary services. The Government needs to establish research institutions and intensify livestock extension services by providing cattle dips and acaricides to combat tick-borne diseases. The most important thing we request the Government to do is that they should provide credit facilities to livestock farmers. We know that livestock farmers, especially pastoralists, do not have collateral to enable them acquire loans from banks. It is important that the Government comes up with ways of assisting them to acquire loans. I beg to support.

On a point of order, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Is it in order for the eye of the Temporary Deputy Speaker not to see me while---

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That is obviously out of order. I will not give you an opportunity.

Ahsante, Bw. Naibu Spika wa Muda kwa kunipa hii nafasi. Hakuna mtu aliye na taabu zaidi ya mchungaji. Hawa watu hawavai viatu wala nguo nzuri. Juzi tulikuwa na mkutano mkubwa ambao ulihudhuriwa na Wabunge wa Samburu ya Magharibi, Igembe ya Kati, na Igembe ya Kusini. Mkutano huo ulikuwa juu ya mifugo. Wananchi wanateseka sana wakati wa kiangazi kwa sababu mifugo hawapati maji. Kila mtu analia kwamba hakuna maziwa na nyama. Wakati wa kiangazi anayefuga hawa wanyama huzidi kutaabika. Serikali ya Jubilee siyo mbaya; ni Serikali nzuri. Watu wetu wa CORD ni lazima tusikizane nao. Ni lazima tupendane katika Bunge hili ili tuwe kitu kimoja. Katika Kimeru husemekana kwamba atakayeoa mamako ndiye babako. Tuachane na mambo ya Jubilee ama CORD. Tuongee juu ya masuala muhimu hapa. Ule ulikuwa ni mpira uwanjani. Tulicheza na CORD ikaingiza kwa mguu nayo Jubilee ikaingiza kwa mkono ikasemekana kwamba muungano wa CORD---

Sisi lazima tuwe pamoja, tupendane na tusikilizane. Zamani kulikuwa na cattle dip ambazo zilikuwa zimejengwa na Moi. Cattle dip zingerudi, lingekuwa jambo la maana sana. Mimi nafurahia kuwa na Jubilee na CORD. Ahsante.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion. Livestock, especially in the ASAL areas, is the only source of income. I think this matter should be taken seriously. Think of yourself, your wife and children being in an arid land. Due to climatic change, drought comes all of a sudden and sweeps away all your source of livelihood. This is the case, yet the person in charge of the Ministry of Livestock somewhere has ugali on the plate. The Ministry officials do not even care about women and children.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion says that it is not the livestock owners or persons who bring drought; this is a natural disaster. If you want to sell your camel or cattle early, you lack the market and if you take them to greener pastures in a game reserve, you are kicked out. This is the case, yet you do not have water. This is a serious matter. We are saying that let us establish an insurance fund which will compensate these people.

We have NGOs in our areas where the presence of the Government is minimal. These NGOs do a good job. They restock for some of the farmers. For example, if you want to sell your camel in north eastern Kenya, and there is no market, you send it to Somalia or Ethiopia. People in Somalia, especially those in Baidoa and Kisimayu, bring their cattle to Garissa, which has the largest market for cattle in East and Central Africa, yet this Government and other governments do not want to recognise that fact. People in Dagoretti, where my friend, Hon. Simba, comes from consume a lot of meat from our area, yet he does not want to recognise that fact.

We are saying that we have no banks to borrow money from, and we do not have the media to highlight our problems. The media is concentrated in a rowdy area. They

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Your time is over! I call upon the Mover to respond. You are free to donate part of your time, if you so wish.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to donate two minutes each to hon. ole Kenta and hon. D.A. Mohamed of Wajir South.

Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion. I would like to congratulate hon. Farah for bringing this Motion to this House. Livestock farming has been neglected for a very long time, yet it contributes a lot to the economy of this country.

I would like to say that it is time for the Government to decentralize the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) to the county level, so that livestock farmers can benefit. The Government should also construct pans in ASAL areas. As it has been said by the Mover of the Motion, a livestock insurance fund should be established, so that people from ASAL areas can benefit from it.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion.

Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion, which is very important to the pastoralists whether they are in North Eastern Province or in Masailand such as Kajiado. Honestly speaking, livestock keeping is more than just eating meat. For most of us, it is our livelihood.

Nowadays, we experience drought frequently; that is after every three years. It is very important that the Kenya Government adopts this proposal as part of climate change because it will help us realise Vision 2030, and our economic targets. However, the worrying thing is that livestock farmers in this country are always left out of Government plans and policies. I was surprised the other day when I visited my constituency and did not find a veterinary or livestock officer in the whole district. I doubted the livestock policies that this Government has. A livestock insurance fund will help us a lot because livestock farming will become lucrative or a viable economic activity just like crop farming, or any other business. Many people do not know that livestock farming is more productive than crop farming and other businesses. However, the main problem is drought, which we experience after every two to three years. We should establish a livestock insurance fund, so that livestock farmers can be compensated when they lose their animals to drought. If this is done, livestock farming will be a very viable economic activity, and it will take this country to the next level.

The biggest foreign exchange earner for a country like Somalia is livestock. Livestock farming can also be the biggest foreign exchange earner in Kenya just like coffee.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like the Government to enact the enabling laws. I support the Motion.

Hon. Farah, it is your time to respond.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, from the outset, I thank the Members of this hon. House for supporting this Motion almost unanimously. The

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There was somebody on the Floor, Hon. (Ms.) Mitaru; she has eight minutes. I want to inform hon. Members that each speaker has ten minutes. If you decide to use five of them, that is okay but you have ten minutes to contribute. For Hon. (Ms.) Mitaru, she had a balance of eight minutes. Is she here? She is not here, so, we will give a chance to other hon. Members who are willing to contribute.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have not uttered a word in this Parliament, and it is in order for me to make my maiden speech. I happen to be elected from one of Eastland’s newly created constituencies, Embakasi North. It was hived off from the larger Embakasi. I would like to say that it is a very complicated constituency. Half of it is the area designated as the dumpsite and the historic dumpsite in Dandora is in the heart of this constituency. What is very interesting is that this dumpsite is completely neglected. It was created during the colonial time when this area did not have any residential houses or settlement. Currently, you will find that the area has residential settlements and the City Council of Nairobi (CCN), which is the current Nairobi County, is the one mandated to maintain this dumpsite. However, you will find that the people charged with maintaining the same have forgotten it. It has turned out to be a major hazard to the public and the residents of the area. This is a very serious health hazard, and it is a potential source of serious diseases anytime. Every day, not less than ten people undergo treatment due to the pollution from the solid waste. It is my desire to see this Parliament taking at least a minute to think about how this menace can be sorted. I know we are in a digital Government, and maybe things have been haphazardly done in past years. I believe that with the will of the Government, these residents can come out of this menace; ways can be found out of this situation. I have travelled elsewhere out of the country and I have seen use of new technologies in managing waste. I know that with a serious Government, things can change. This area has a population of more than 180,000 people. You find not less than 10,000 elderly people live there and this deplorable environment endangers their lives. Therefore, it is my humble request that the Government looks into this matter. In fact, we now have the county governments and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), which has a clear legal mandate to ensure that our environment is protected. The persons responsible at the NEMA have been sleeping on their job, and it is time they woke up and thought of the lives of those people. Those people deserve quality service and fundamental human rights. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not see any reason as to why garbage should be collected in Westlands only for it to be dumped at the doorsteps of other people in Dandora. The Government must understand that the lives of the people of Dandora are

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(Hon. (Ms) Muia): Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I stand to support this Motion, which talks about the elderly people of our society. The issue of taking care of the old citizens of this country is of great concern to all of us. During the referendum, this group of people supported the Constitution, because they knew very well that their welfare was provided for. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of Article 57 of the Constitution talk about senior citizens. During the campaigns for the adoption of the current Constitution, the Government then promised this particular group that it would take care of their welfare, just as the current Government promised to empower youth and women during the campaigns in the last general election. I want to refer hon. Members to Article 57 of the Constitution, which makes reference to elderly persons and says they are expected to fully participate in the affairs of the society, pursue their personal development, live in dignity and respect and be free from abuse and receive reasonable care and assistance from their families and the state. You find a family whose bread winner is a man or woman who is over 60 years of age. So, the family is now without any income. It is abandoned and helpless. You look at what they go through, even after the adoption of the current Constitution and feel helpless. I am appealing to the Government to make sure that it takes care of this group of people in our society, because these people participated fully during the referendum on the current Constitution, knowing that the State would take care of their welfare. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I recall that about two years ago, this House legislated on the same issue under Article 57, but the method that was used by the Provincial Administration to implement the law was not the best. I remember that officials from the Provincial Administration in my constituency went to every location and identified only seven beneficiaries of the scheme. There was no method that was used to identify those people. The Provincial Administration officials involved did not

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Your time is up, hon. Member. Yes, hon. Lentoimaga.

Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion. Let me say that it is not only the nursing homes that are important, they need income. Every single hour, we become old. So, becoming old is golden. The previous governments neglected the elderly. When we were doing campaigns, apart from the issue of the youth, our constituents wanted to know the plans we had for the elderly. In the previous government, a fund was established to pay the elderly, those who had reached the age of 65 years, a stipend. Unfortunately, not all the elderly in the country benefit. It does not help the elderly in my constituency. It was done in a hurry. Although it was a pilot project, the Government should focus on covering the whole country. Elderly people play a critical role in our society. Even in our culture, the elderly are very important. A country that does not have values, or culture, cannot survive well. I appeal that, that income should be enhanced. Besides the home for the aged, we need to have income for them. I do not want to talk so much, but I want to revisit the issue of the civil society. We have a lot of problems because of civil society, not just because of agitating for things that are not right but they are also causing problems of insecurity. If one person is

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I am going to give that Member the Floor, but before I do that, there is an observation I want to make. At times, Members contribute and immediately after contribution, they walk away. That is not very good because other hon. Members have sat and listened to you. At least, listen to a few others before you leave. Secondly, I urge Members to be very patient. We still have about 13 more Members to speak. So, be patient as we try to balance both sides of the House.

Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to thank the hon. Member for bringing up this Motion; it is very dear to me. When you look at our senior citizens, I want to say that it is a very sad situation. Most of the old men and women are suffering. I just want to say that as you all know, the lifestyles of our children are changing because of economic hardships. Our old people are suffering because they are abandoned. I come from an area where every morning you see an old person coming to you asking for Kshs200 to be able to fetch for herself or himself something for the day. Hon. Members present have gone through what I am going through. You give an old man Kshs200 and you can see how prayerful, or thankful, the old man is, because it is like manna from Heaven. We should do something about this. It is only proper that we take care of our senior citizens. I know, as one hon. Member has just mentioned, every day we are getting old. You will be 60 years two or ten years to come; if you do not have any mechanism in place I can tell you, you will suffer the same fate. Because of that I want to suggest that we actually ask the Government to take a fresh census to know just how many old men and women in sub- locations, locations and constituencies are suffering. One hon. Member has just mentioned that in her constituency there are those who benefit. It is true, in fact those benefiting are those with sons and daughters who are known. But those who are not known are suffering a lot. We demand that the Government takes a census of the old men and women, who are over 65 years old, so that it can take care of them. Let us have a proper mechanism if that programme is there to benefit our people. I know old men and women over 65 years are getting something like Kshs2,500. I understand in some areas people are benefiting. In Trans Nzoia, in my constituency, there is nothing. One hon. Member has said only seven people in a location benefit. You cannot have seven people aged over 65 years in one location! They are more than that. So, I suggest the Government takes proper census in the locations, sub-locations and constituencies, so that we can know how many people are over 65 years. In Kwanza, our old people are not benefitting. I also want to say that there should be some special card. Let us issue these old people with special cards, so that they can access medical services. That will assist our people in addition to getting money.

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Hon. E.A. Keter): Thank hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. This is the first time in the history of my life to speak in this House. My names are hon. Erick arap Keter, Member of Parliament for Belgut Constituency, Kericho County.

I want to thank the Chair because I have been standing here; I have counted almost 200 times; I was wondering what mechanism is used to identify the hon. Member to be given a chance to speak. So, I am really thankful.

This being my first time I would like the Chair to allow me to comment on the President’s Address, which was very good and I really wanted to contribute to it. First is about education in this country. I am one the educationists in this country, and have worked in the Ministry of Education for a long time. I want to applaud the President for the way he came up with policies which are going to assist this country, especially our youth. Education is life and the way our President came up with the idea of Laptops is very welcome. I want to urge that action be taken right now for proper implementation of this programme. I know it is very unique in many parts of this country; it may be well known in urban areas, but in the rural areas, this may be seen as something unique, because most of the children have never seen a computer, leave alone a laptop. So, I am saying that urgent steps should be taken to see how this matter is going to be implemented. First it should be the teachers to be trained because they are the ones who will teach the children how to use these gadgets. Teachers will teach Standard I children, and they should be well versed and trained properly, so that when they handle the computers, then they will do so with a lot of competence. Concerning facilities, where are these devices going to be kept? Will they be taken home by the children? As you know, rains are causing a lot of havoc in this country. You can imagine a child taking the device home and he has no knowledge of it. That will be something the child will be holding for the first time. Definitely that gadget will not be very useful. So, I suggest and propose that, measures be taken to ensure that

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On Members who are doing their maiden speeches, I am inclined to completely mix the Members, otherwise, the Motion will get a real disservice. So, we will be mixing although I have a lot of sympathies for those Members who have not contributed before in this House. But, kindly, devote, at least, some few minutes, like the Member has just spoken, to the Motion, so that we can give it attention. I will give a chance to the Member for Ugenya.

Gender?

Do not worry about gender. I will take care of it. As I said, be patient. We will have time. In fact, I said that there are going to be 13 Members who will contribute. So, you will get your time.

Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to support the Motion. However, I would like to make a few comments. I want to thank hon. Idd for moving the Motion. One fundamental thing that differentiates us from the West and that makes Africa what it is, is our culture and our social orientation. If we pass this Motion the way it is, then what will happen is that you will wait until your parents become old and dump them in a nursing hospital and you go away.

We have a very old tradition. It may not be institutionalized, but we have a very old tradition of home-based care for the old people. This is the best thing for this country. Let us institutionalize home-based care. Let us not transfer our old people to hospitals to be taken care of. We still want to take care of our uncles and aunts and we will do that if we only induce a little Government support. I would, therefore, implore hon. Idd to consider amending this Motion, so that it captures our aspirations as the people of Kenya. Normally, our nurses leave this country and go to the West and you think that they are going to do real nursing. No. In fact, they go there to change diapers for the old Americans and Britons.

On a point of order, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir.

I have not even given you a chance, but anyway proceed if it is really a point of order.

On a point of order, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. Is the Member in order to try to amend the Motion which is so sensitive and dear to some of our hearts considering the dynamic scenario in which culture is changing in Africa? I appreciate the home-based care, which most of us are doing, but there are dynamics of international mobility and the culture change in our children.

Order Member for Nyaribari! You have actually contributed to the Motion.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have not contributed.

I did not see any amendment proposal by the Member who has just spoken. So, it is not a point of order. But you have had your time to contribute albeit very few minutes. Proceed Member for Ugenya!

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I did not propose to amend the Motion. I just implored upon the Mover to consider amending it. We cannot strive to live a life that looks like a lie. I do not think even our parents will agree to be taken from home to somewhere else. What we call hospitals in this country are not hospitals. In

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Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I stand to oppose this Motion. This is not because I do not care for the aged, but for the following reasons: This House, through an Act of Parliament, already passed legislation about paying a stipend to the aged. This has been in pilot project for such a long time. I would rather it is fully implemented, so that all the aged receive the stipend that was decided of either Kshs2,500 or Kshs2,000. If the money is a challenge, I would further propose that we re-look at that particular legislation and either increase the age limit from 65 years to 68 years or have a way of identifying the very needy in the society. I also oppose this Motion because traditionally, I cannot imagine taking my grandparents to a nursing home. Surely, you will be cursed. In most African traditions, you were to take care of the old members of your family. In fact, this is the time you bring them to your home and really take care of them. Thirdly, why would these particular homes be in hospitals? One, there is a very big challenge that our hospitals cannot even accommodate the inpatients. Instead, we should be expanding the hospitals to accommodate the inpatients. Two, our old parents have a phobia of hospitals. In fact, it takes a long time to convince them to go to the hospital. You call in your aged brothers and uncles to convince them to go to hospital. If you tell them you are taking them to a nursing home at the hospital far from home, they will die immediately. I want to mention that we are aware that HIV/AIDS has affected many families and in the middle aged families where both parents have died, you will find that these old people are the ones taking care of their grandchildren and even their great grandchildren. Now, when you take them to homes you are even worsening the situation in such homes. That is why I say we need---

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On a point of information, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Thank you very much. I do not need any information now, maybe much later. So, I am saying that I want hon. Members to understand. I care for the old. I am only saying that let us have an alternative way of addressing the issue and not necessarily going to create homes near hospitals. We can look at it in a different way.

On a point of order, hon. Speaker, Sir. Huyu Mbunge ako na haki ya kupotosha Bunge ikiwa Hoja yenyewe inazungumzia kwamba wazee wapate matibabu ya bure sio kuwekwa mahali?

Proceed as you respond to that. I think it is a valid point of order.

Thank you very much, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. The hon. Member should be informed and that is why I think I had said earlier that I do not need any information. The Motion here says: “This House urges the Government to establish a free nursing unit for the aged in every hospital in all the counties.” Excuse me, it is simple and clear. Thank you very much, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Lastly, I want to say ---

Just to sort out that issue, what is the understanding of a nursing unit? Is it not possible that it is a unit where you can go and get some medication and go home?

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, my understanding anyway even from the contribution is that a nursing care unit just means a home for the aged where they can receive nursing and care. That is my understanding.

On a point of information, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Thank you. I do not need that information. Lastly, I want to mention something about pension. The Pensions Department is not doing its job very well. Many people retire and go home and because they were used to receiving some money, they die even before they receive their pension. So, this is wrong. Remember the retired teachers who since 1997 have been claiming their pension. The court has ruled and nothing has been done. So, I want to say if all these are done, then I am opposed to them. If it is a home where you take the aged ones, I oppose this Motion. Let us look into other ways of helping our aged parents.

Thank you, hon. Speaker, Sir.

Hon. Shidiye.

Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to say one or two things about this Motion. From the outset, I want to support this Motion. We know that all of us at one time or the other will age. So, do not worry about age since we will all age but the point is: When you age, where do you go? Many parents have been abandoned in this country by their children; people who are working in other parts of the country. People who are earning good income abroad have been known to abandon their parents and this is because of the modern living. Your parents are in the village. You are in Nairobi. Somebody else is abroad and all of them sometimes forget about their parents. That is why this Motion is very important because the Government brings us together. A Government is for the welfare of the entire Kenya.

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Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion. In this Motion, we are urging the Government to establish a free nursing unit for the aged in every hospital in all the counties. I would implore the Mover of the Motion to introduce some amendment, so that we talk of a county referral hospital.

Order! hon. Keter! You actually crossed the Floor twice without bowing at the Bar. I would have forgiven you for the first one. You need to go back to the Bar and bow before crossing the Floor.

I was saying that we need to talk about a county referral hospital. When we talk about establishing a free of charge nursing unit, it means that--- I think there are issues about whether it is a nursing home or something like that. When we talk of a unit, we are talking of a facility within a hospital. This can be a clinic, and it should also have support facilities. This unit should contain certain packages for the old people. Old people would go there and receive care at no cost.

I would also like to say that we need to support it. In rural areas, where most of us come from – I come from Endebbes – the majority of the aged are not able to fend for themselves. My neighbour Member of Parliament said somebody comes to your house to beg for Kshs100 or Kshs200 to buy food. In many areas, people who are over 65 years of age, have not received the stipend from the Government. Everywhere I go in my constituency the old people ask me where the money for the old people is. In other areas people get this money, but old people in my constituency do not get it.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is even a problem for this person to get fare to go to the unit where old people are taken care of. So, the programme for the aged must be accompanied by a package for transport. Old people also happen to be malnourished. So, will they be given some food supplements to assist them? What kind of care will they be given while in that place?

Also, look at the caliber of staff; in this country we have a shortage of medical staff; nurses and doctors are not enough. We are talking of doctors for the aged. How many doctors for the old do we have in this country? How many nurses for the aged do we have? Do we have physiotherapists to take care of these people? When some of them go there they will need some other care. In old age, people suffer from diseases like arthritis. How well do we remunerate the staff? One of the hon. Members talked about---

On a point of order, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. My names are Irungu Kangata, MP for Kiharu.

This Motion infringes on Article 23 of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya. The national Government, which Parliament is part of, can only talk about issues relating to national referral health facilities. The Motion seeks to compel the Government to establish units in all hospitals. But hospitals have now been vested in county governments. I am of the opinion that the Motion should be amended to say that the

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Hon. Member for Kiharu, first of all you are at liberty, as an hon. Member, to amend this particular Motion. You can do it at any stage pursuant to the Standing Orders. But as I consider what you have said, allow the Member to proceed. We will give some considered opinion on that shortly

On a point of order, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir.

What is your point of order?

The hon. Member for Kiharu, my good friend hon. Kang’ata, is actually misleading the House. He is actually trying to say that this matter should be referred to county governments. There are 47 county governments. Let me give him an example of Murang’a County where he comes from. They can only discuss and prioritise health issues about Murang’a. They cannot discuss national issues. So, this House has the mandate to advise the counties. The Senate also has that mandate. It is to advise the counties to establish those special clinics

Is my colleague also in order---

I am on a point of order. So, it is not constitutional. He is misleading the House because we can advise the counties. Even the Senate can advise the counties to do that.

Actually, the Member for Kiharu, the neater option would be for you to convince your colleagues and move an amendment, if you really feel strongly that, that is what should happen. But I think the Motion is in order. The hon. Speaker has seen it and it is, actually, in order. It does not infringe any part of the Constitution. Proceed, hon. Pukose.

Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I think when it comes to the issues of whether this Motion also affects counties, as a general surgeon and a former medical superintendent of a hospital, I think I am an authority to tell you whether district hospitals, which we intend to become country referral hospitals, are able to perform this duty. As it stands now, they are not under the counties because the Motion to devolve health is not yet on the Floor of the House. What is happening is that we expect a comprehensive Motion to discuss how well we can devolve health. When you look at the Budget Bill that came before the House, there was an item where they referred to the provincial hospitals and the referrals hospitals. Then you ask yourself: Where does the Spinal Unit fall? Where does Mathari Mental Hospital fall? Where are the high level volume hospitals like the Kisii Hospital, Kitale District Hospital, Kericho and all those ones? Where do they fall? Those are high volume hospitals. So, I think when it comes to health, we might have to discuss and see how we can be able to devolve it.

Hon. Member for Kiharu, you will learn the motion. Go back to the Bar and bow. Hon. Members, I think that is not the

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Thank you. I rise to support this Motion in that we need to establish free nursing units for the aged in every hospital in all the counties. That is because health is an issue that transcends both the national and county level. We cannot exclude ourselves and say that we are at the national level, when the people we serve are within those counties and within our constituencies. Thank you.

I am going to give this opportunity to the Architect Kiaraho from Ol Kalou. I think that should be your maiden speech. Proceed.

Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. My name is hon. David Njuguna Kiaraho, Member of Parliament for Ol Kalou Constituency. This being my maiden speech, I would like to take this opportunity, first and foremost, to thank the electorate of Ol Kalou Constituency for having voted for me overwhelmingly. On the same note, I would like to comment on one or two issues which, basically, touch on the Presidential Address, and which are very passionate to me. Those, basically, are issues to do with agriculture and infrastructure. When the various Members were contributing during their maiden speeches, I think the issue of infrastructure was a major item. Considering that, there is one thing that we, as architects, when we design a project, we make sure that we design and follow it up to the final implementation. What I have noted is that here we have been talking about infrastructure and alleviating poverty of our people in the rural areas. One area which I would like to comment on at this point is infrastructure. I happen to come from a county which is100 per cent agricultural. When you take that into consideration, there are two factors that you look at one being the issue of infrastructure because it has a major impact on the same. At the same time, when you talk about agriculture, you talk about marketing. How do you market the produce? I am zeroing in on that because when you talk about infrastructure, I do not see why we should not come up with a forum registration measure where we empower our counties in respect of improving the infrastructure network. How do we do that? How can we achieve a mileage on that? It is by asking the Government to zero-rate. When you talk about anything touching on infrastructure, whether it is timber, graders, loaders; anything touching on infrastructure is zero-rated to allow our county governments to import that equipment duty-free. I believe that will go a long way in empowering our various county governments if we do that. At the same time, I would like to comment on something that I am very passionate about. That is because when you talk about alleviating poverty in the rural communities--- Where I come from, for instance, we have something called “potato packaging” where brokers have continuously exploited our farmers. A bag of potatoes which is supposed to weigh about 110 kilogrammes, with that packaging, weighs 180 kilogrammes. From the time those farmers till their shambas to the time they harvest those potatoes, they make zero money. From here, I think all these hon. Members will be in the dining area. I can assure hon. Members who are here that the potatoes you will be eating, the farmer will have, most likely, not

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Hon. Gunga, and I believe this will be your maiden speech.

Not really, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. First, I want to thank hon. Idi for bringing this Motion to the Floor and I strongly support it. The question of enhancing the wellbeing of the elderly is not a favour. Article 43 of the Constitution speaks about the need to take care of the elderly. Hon. Members will agree with me that we have seen the elderly suffering in all parts of the country. Most of the elderly who are suffering have been victims of circumstances. There was a time when there was the Golden Handshake. Most of them were paid and they went home. They are now 60 years old and above. Most of the elderly people did not have proper education. Because of that, most of them had to be subjected to manual work. As a result, at the age of 60 years there is nothing substantive they can do. The elderly are suffering wherever they are. There is need for us to pass this Motion. There is need for the State to take care of senior citizens of this country. I am saying so with passion. We appreciate the fact that it is not only about the elderly; it also touches on their dependants. You realize that since we are Africans it is not unusual to find a 60 year old man with children attending kindergarten. They need total support. The State has a duty to support and protect its citizens. The issue of the elderly being supported financially contributed towards the elderly passing the present Constitution. This issue must also have dominated the manifestos of hon. Members. We promised that when we come to this House we will ensure that the elderly receive something substantial at the end of the month. I am not so comfortable with the issue of giving an elderly Kshs2,500 per month. That is not enough because as I have already stated even at the age of 60 years you still have dependants to take care of.

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On a point of order, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. Could I be in order to advise this House that from the latest payments, the figure the Government is paying the elderly is Kshs4,000 and not Kshs2,500?

Hon. Gichigi there is no point of advice in this House. You ought to have sought the Speaker’s eye and contributed thus giving that information. The lady hon. Member there! Please, introduce yourself.

Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I was almost giving up but I thank God that you have seen me. I am Winnie Njuguna from Kirinyaga County. I stand to support this Motion. It is a very important Motion. Kenyans have a lot of hope in this Government. They believe it will bring changes in their lives. We have seen the elderly suffering a lot. This is an area which has been neglected for a very long time. Old age comes with a lot of challenges. The old get diseases and are unable to work. We really need to support them. Just giving free medical care is not enough. It is, however, good for the first time. These people require financial support. The last Government provided for this and some of the old people have been getting it. We need to make sure that every person who is above 60 years of age gets financial support. For the diseases, they are caused by lack of good eating, that is, lack of balanced diet. At that age, they are unable to work and therefore get food. That is why they get many diseases. It is important that we support the elderly even with finances. Retired people who have been working get their pension until they die. There is this group which has no finances. I support that these people get finances. We need ambulances in all the counties. We need at least one ambulance in every county. If these people have no money, how do they get to hospital to get treatment? This is where the county is going to get blessings, that is, if we take care of our elderly. In most cases people faced with problems of old age are women. They suffer more because they really work a lot. At old age they suffer the most. I really support this Motion. The women need to be supported financially. I come from Mwea where people live in villages and cannot work to get some money. Elderly people die and sometimes there is no place to bury them. This is because they live in villages. These people languish in poverty. Let this programme start, and let it start with the people of Mwea because there are many old people there who suffer because they live in villages. They do not have farms where they can work. These people cannot move to other areas where they can be employed as casual labourers because they are old. So, they just suffer in those villages.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion and hope that this programme will start immediately because it is in the Constitution and in the Jubilee Manifesto. Let this programme start with the people of Mwea in Kirinyaga County.

Thank you very much.

On a point of order, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir.

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I hope you will not use the point of order to pursue other things because we have very little time left.

Not at all, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. Is there a quorum in the House?

That is a valid point of order because we do not seem to have quorum. We have 40 Members. Ring the Division Bell.

We have a quorum now. I will give this chance to the lady seated next hon. (Dr.) Chebet.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am Mary Seneta, Kajiado County Women Representative. I rise to support the Motion because our elderly people have invested a lot in this country. I urge this Government to give them something at this important stage in their life. As we start the free nursing unit for the aged in every hospital in all the counties, we also have to look at the facilities in those hospitals. This is because we may end up taking our elderly people to those hospitals and yet there are not enough personnel and doctors to attend to them. This might create more health problems to them. Many of us are aware of the emotional cases that people in this age bracket have. These people would not like to be neglected. Therefore, we should start units which are well equipped so that people in this age bracket may be attended to.

We also need to look at the fund for the elderly which has been made a pilot fund for a very long time. In the county where I come from, very few people get money from this fund. I think it is high time that this fund was made accessible to all the elderly in Kenya. Apart from giving the elderly this money, we should also equip our hospitals and provide them with free medical care.

Thank you very much, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Ahsante Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Kwanza, ninataka kumshukuru ndugu yangu, Mheshimiwa aliyeleta Hoja hii hapa. Tunafahamu vyema kwamba wazee wetu ni watu ambao wanahitaji kuzingatiwa sana. Hii ni kwa sababu hatungefika hapa leo au hatungefikisha umri huu bila wazee wetu. Hata sisi tutakuwa wazee.

Hoja hii inafuatana na Katiba yetu ambayo tuliipitisha kwa kusema kwamba tutawasimamia na kuwasaidia wazee. Jambo hili liko katika Kipengee cha 57 cha Katiba ya Kenya. Kipengee hiki kinasema: “The State shall take measures to ensure the rights of older persons.” Kipengee cha 57(d) kinasema: “to receive reasonable care and assistance from their family and the State.”

Mheshimiwa ameelezea usaidizi ambao wazee wetu wanaweza kupata. Moja ni kuwa wazee wa umri wa miaka 60 na zaidi wahudumiwe katika hospitali zetu bila malipo yoyote. Hii ni kwa sababu mzee ataenda hospitalini, aambiwe alipe shilingi mia mbili na hajui atoe hizo pesa wapi. Ningeomba tulizingatie suala hili sana.

Vile vile, zile Kshs.4,000 ambazo Serikali inawapatia wazee, itakuwa vyema kama tutahakikisha kwamba zinamfikia kila mzee popote alipo. Hii ni kwa sababu

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Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda, ningeomba hii iwe kama mazungumzo yangu ya kwanza katika Bunge. Nilisimama tu kuunga mkono Hoja nilipopata nafasi. Nashukuru Mwenyezi Mungu amekuwezesha kuniona. Nimekuwa nikisimama nikikaa hapa tangu nije. Nikianza na Hoja hii, ninaunga mkono vilivyo kwa sababu wazee si watu wa kutupwa. Wazee wamefanyia mengi taifa hili ambalo linahitaji kuangaliwa kwa uangalifu zaidi. Wazee wa miaka 60 na zaidi, wengi wao hawana ajira. Wengi wao wamestaafu na wengine hawajawahi kuajiriwa kabisa kwa sababu ya kujitegemea wenyewe kwa kazi zao za kibinafsi. Wazee hao wamekuwa mizigo kwa vijana wetu. Imekuwa wazee wanawategemea vijana na ilhali hali ya vijana ni ngumu kimaisha, hata ajira hawana. Hata sasa unakuta vijana wanaanza kukosana na wazee wao. Hata sehemu nyingi wanawaita wazee wao wachawi. Hata inafikia wakati wanaanza kuwaua. Sio kwamba wale wazee wameroga watoto. Wale watoto wanafahamu vyema kwamba hawa wazee wamewalea tangu utotoni, itakuaje hivi sasa wamekuwa wachawi? Kama wangekuwa na malengo mabaya wangeyatimiza wakiwa wachanga. Lakini kwa sababu ya hali ngumu ya maisha, wanaona njia rahisi ya kuondoa mzigo huo ni kusema kwamba hawa wazee ni wachawi. Hii Serikali, ninaweza kusema kwamba imepuuza wazee wetu. Hata mikasa mingi ambayo tunapata katika taifa nzima ni kwa sababu ya wazee. Kwa roho zao hawana raha. Kwa mfano, ukosefu wa usalama katika taifa, mafuriko na mambo mengi mazito yanatokana na kwamba wazee wetu hawana raha na wanaona kama wametengwa. Nikikupa habari, kuna wazee wamekuwa katika nyumba ya muwajiri wao miaka miwili sasa katika hoteli za African Safari Club wakidai malipo yao. Wazee wale walikuja katika Bunge la Kumi hapa, wakazungumza na kamati husika lakini hadi wakati huu shida yao haijasuluhishwa. Wale wazee wana---

On a point of order, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir.

It is really not a maiden speech, in my opinion. He had seconded and so you can raise your point of order.

Proceed, Hon. Bedzimba!

Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda, wale wazee ambao wako pale, ni miaka miwili sasa; wanakufa mmoja mmoja na sasa wanaona kwamba wanaanza kulaumu Serikali na kuilaani na ndio sababu tunapata mambo mengi na maafa. Ningeomba wazee wetu waangaliwe ili tuzuie laana kwa taifa letu. Kuhusu usalama wa kitaifa, uko katika majaribio. Mavamizi katika sehemu za magharibi; magengi katika sehemu za Mandera na sehemu nyingi za taifa, hata sehemu za Pwani imekuwa shida kubwa. Kila siku kuna vikundi vipya vimejiunda na wanakula

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Hon. Macharia, you will only have two minutes!

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is my maiden speech. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Molo for electing me to the august House and also to compliment the nation because for the first time in 21 years, the people of Molo voted in peace and we are still peaceful up to now. I would like to confirm that we have, indeed, tilled our land and planted our crops. I would also like to mention a few things on the Presidential Speech before I talk about the Motion at hand. I hope that as a result of only taking two minutes, when we resume again, you will give me the other three minutes to finish what I am saying. Having enjoyed such peace in Molo, we watched and listened to the Presidential Speech. I would like to say that as a people we are hopeful that - our main business in Molo is agriculture - this Government is going to revive the pyrethrum sector. We are also hopeful that this Government will protect pyrethrum farmers. Our hopes are many. On the Motion, I would like to say that, indeed, I rise to support it because elderly people in Kenya, like the Member from Mombasa has said, are many even in my constituency. This is a burden for each and every Kenyan. When we were campaigning, we used to be reminded that we had not given something to the old people. They would say they had nothing to eat. Sometimes during public holidays we had to give them something to eat. I would like to say I support this Motion because as a nation---

Hon. Macharia, you have eight more minutes to contribute when the House resumes. For now, I hereby adjourn this House.

Hon. Members, we have now come to the end of our sitting this morning. Therefore, the House is adjourned to this afternoon.

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