Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the bell for 10 minutes.

I order the bell to be stopped. I confirm that we have quorum. Order, Members! Let us proceed with business.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table: First half, National Government Budget Implementation Review Report for the Financial Year 2022/2023 from the Office of the Controller of Budget. Report of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements in respect of the following institutions for the year ended 2022 and the certificates therein: (a) Central Bank of Kenya; (b) Public Sector Accounting Standards Board; and, (c) University of Nairobi Pensions Scheme. Reports of the Auditor-General and the Financial Statements in respect of the following institutions for the year ended 2021 and the certificates therein: (a) Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology; (b) Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology; (c) Kenyatta University Teaching and Research Hospital; (d) Moi Teachers Training College, Baringo; and, (e) University of Nairobi. Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements in respect of the following constituencies for the year ended 2021 and the certificates therein: (a) Kitui Central; (b) Machakos Town; (c) Narok North; (d) Makueni; (e) Nakuru Town East; (f) Kitui West; (g) Mwingi West; (h) Kiambu; The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

(i) Tongaren; (j) Shinyalu; (k) Nambale; (l) Kiminini; (m) Kiambaa; (n) Ikolomani; and, (o) Butere.

Next Order!

I hope those who have their Questions listed on the Order Paper are in the House. The first chance goes to Hon. Umul Kheir Kassim from Mandera County. Give the microphone to the Member. Is she in the House?

Yes.

Just approach the Clerk-at-the- Table to assist if you have confusion. Hon. Waqo, give her the microphone.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to ask the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development the following Question: (a) Could the Cabinet Secretary clarify whether there are any interventions that the Government is undertaking to assist people of Mandera County from the adverse effects of the prolonged drought? (b) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide details of the total sum of money and social assistance that the Government has mobilized from Government Ministries, development partners and private organizations towards alleviating drought and famine, particularly in Mandera County, and indicate whether the assistance has reached the target population? (c) Could the Government consider providing food rations to affected families living in the drought-stricken areas during the upcoming Holy Month of

? Thank you. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I asked a Question last year, in the last session, which was directed to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation. I have not received any response yet. I need guidance on this. Thank you.

Thank you, Hon. Umul Kheir. The Question that you have just asked shall be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Regional Development. I hope the Chairman is in the House. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

As for the Question asked in the last Session, you are probably aware that Questions lapse. They are not like Bills and Motions. Therefore, you will have to ask it again so that it is lined up for reply in the usual manner. The next Question is to be asked by Hon. Peter Lochakapong, Member for Sigor. Is he in the House? Yes, he is in. Give him the microphone. Hon. Lochakapong, move to the microphone just in front of you.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration the following Question: (a) What action has the Government taken to arrest the officers who allegedly shot and killed over 100 head of cattle belonging to Mr. Domoreng Todokor of ID No.30960010 and Mr. Tepanyang Lokamar of ID No.30966099 near Kainuk area of Mosol Location? (b) When does the Government intend to compensate the two families for the loss of cattle and livelihood through police shootings? (c) Could the Cabinet Secretary consider deploying National Police Reservists in the North Rift region, and particularly in Pokot Central Sub-County, to curb the increasing insecurity incidences? I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

This Question shall be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs. Is the Chairperson or the Vice Chairperson in the House? Hon. Peter Lochakapong, are you aware that the Question that was asked earlier is directed to your Committee? I hope you can handle it. I did not know you were in the House when the first Question was asked. It is advised that Chairpersons and their Vice Chairpersons refer to the Order Paper so that if there is an issue that concerns your Committee in the House you can take note.

The third Question is by Hon. Umulkher Harun. Is she in the House?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education the following Question: (a) Could the Cabinet Secretary state the tax exemption measures on sanitary pads the Government has put in place to ensure they are tax exempt? (b) What measures is the Government putting in place to ensure equal and timely distribution of sanitary pads to all school-going girls, especially those in rural areas and informal settlements? (c) What plans has the Ministry put in place to ensure efficient and sustainable ways of addressing the challenges experienced by young girls as a result of menstrual cycles? The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Hon. Temporary Speaker this is important because we are in the budget- making process and this is something that we can give extra attention to, especially with the rising cost of menstrual hygiene and sanitary towels. Thank you.

This Question shall be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Education. I hope Hon. Millie will be informed that this is urgent and important as the Member has indicated. Next Order!

Hon. Members, this Motion has a balance of 16 minutes. As the House rose last time, there was no one on the Floor as the person who was contributing had finished his time. Are there any Members who want to contribute to the Motion? Hon. Nyikal!

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this Motion. This Motion is extremely important to our education system. The first question that one would ask is whether we need uniforms in schools or whether children can go to school without uniform. In my view, the answer is “Yes.” There are two important issues on having uniform. One of the issues is indiscipline. The set of uniform that children are expected to have is a sign of discipline that they will keep the uniforms clean and, therefore, creating some uniformity – which in turn enhances discipline. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Secondly, in a country where people live in very different backgrounds socially but the children go to the same school, uniform gives a sense of social equity. When children are in uniform, they feel equal and their economic background is not apparent just by looking at them, and that is extremely important. If you left students to attend school with whatever clothes they have, it will be apparent what their social background is when they come to school. At times some students get embarrassed because of the kind of clothes and shoes they wear. Having uniforms is an important aspect of education. Having said that, the real object of this Motion is the cost of uniforms. The cost of uniforms in this country is unbelievable. When you go to day secondary schools, the amount of money that is spent on uniforms is a significant proportion of the school fees. What is expected of girl-students is that they are supposed to have skirts, blouses, sweater and windbreakers. These are things they do not normally use at home. They are supposed to have school shoes, sport shoes and bathroom slippers. These children would not afford these items in their home situations. They are now forced to have these items in the schools. In an average family in this country, when one child goes to secondary school, the cost of taking them to school is enormous. The resources that go to a single child, apart from the school fees, drains the family. It is important that we set a standard that will actually support the families. Hon. Temporary Speaker, there is need for regulation. What we are asking for is basically a policy, which is what this Motion is asking for. In my view, the reason why we need this is because there are cartels in school uniform. When children report to school, in some cases, they are required to pay directly to the school for uniform items, which are thereafter provided. The cost that parents incur is much higher than what you would find in the open market. It has gone to an extent where in those markets there are cartels. The children are directed to specific shops. In some cases, when schools open, traders go to school under the connivance of the school heads so that they are paid directly and the costs are extremely high. This is something we must bring to a halt. If you talk to parents when schools are open, you will realise that there is obvious expectation that there are cartels and school heads who are involved in this malpractice. There is need for policy and some form of regulation. I would advise that these policies regulate the market. The schools should indicate the colour and material of the uniforms and give parents the liberty to decide where to make them. Some parents are tailors and can get the material to make the uniform themselves. Why do school administrators insist that parents must buy uniforms from certain shops? In my opinion, this is the best way forward to avoid these cartels. I do not think we should get the Government involved in the production or the regulation of school uniform. This will bring us into another bureaucracy which will involve cartels and the cost of uniform will increase. I think this is an area we should look into and save the parents unnecessary costs as we cloth children in similar uniform for discipline and social equity. There is an important issue that we need to look at. Is this something that should be coming up at this point considering the outcry that we have been having? Is it something in respect of which there should have been a policy in the Ministry of Education a long time ago? If you look at the Order Paper today, what we are seeing is a deficiency in overall policy governance. This Motion is talking about standardisation and production of school uniforms. Order No.9 is talking about registration of beneficiaries to the Older Persons Cash Transfer Programme. Again, these are matters affecting families that should be in the form of Government policies. They should not come to the House in the form of Motions. Order No.11 is on reduction of the cost of electricity and Order No.12 is on funding for junior secondary schools.

Order, Hon. Nyikal. You are now a ranking Member. You cannot anticipate debate. We are debating Order No.8. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

I have seen it. So, Hon. Temporary Speaker, as I conclude, I support the Motion. However, the business on the Order Paper for this morning indicates that there is a deficiency in policy and governance.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Thank you very much, Hon. Nyikal. If there were no deficiencies in all those areas, there would be no need for Parliament in the first place. There will always be deficiency in one place or the other.

Hon. Members, the time allocated for this particular Motion has lapsed. I now call upon the Mover of this Motion, Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba, to reply.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I take this opportunity to thank this honourable House for the support that I have received on this Motion and the debate that has followed on the standardisation of uniforms through Government policy. Before I continue, because I have some time I would like to donate two minutes to Hon. Gitonga Mukunji, Member of Parliament for Manyatta. Thank you.

Hon. Mukunji.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Thank you, Hon. Wamuchomba, for the two minutes. This country is currently experiencing a lot of economic downturn. There are unwritten fees that are coming from our day secondary schools in the name of school uniforms. It has become a challenge because while the Government subsidises school fees, school uniforms are left to the principals of those schools and maybe the Board of Management (BoM) to decide. It has become a challenge. On the day before yesterday, I was looking at one school’s fees structure, which was requesting parents for Ksh30,000 for school uniforms. I feel that this Motion will set things straight by standardising the uniforms that are required for secondary school students. Our textile industry will benefit a lot if we tap into what they are doing and ensure that we get standardised uniforms. We can talk of a blue uniform, which should be accepted in those schools regardless of where a parent gets it. In that way, we will avoid principals of schools and members of the BoM engaging in business, for the sake of our education system. The right to education should not be determined by the uniform that students wear…

Your two minutes are over.

Thank you very much.

Hon. Wamuchomba.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Before I give my submission on what I have heard from Members in the House, I would like to donate another two minutes to the youngest Member of Parliament. This is the young and aggressive nominated or specially elected lady, Hon. Harun Umul Kheir.

Very well. Hon. Wamuchomba, next time, mention all the Members you want to donate your time to at once so that you do not need to keep coming back to mention other Members. Proceed, Hon. Harun.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I would like to contribute to Order No.8. I definitely support the policy on standardisation of school uniforms because while addressing the issue of school uniforms, we will also address the issue of Muslim students wearing the hijab in schools. Many institutions have a policy on that issue and the matter has also gone to court. With this new policy, we will be able to address that matter so that there will be standardisation across both religious and non-religious institutions. With that addressed, there will be no infringement of rights. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

I went to a school where we were not allowed to wear the hijab, and that policy affected me negatively. Many Muslim children are withdrawing from top national schools because of that issue. This will allow standardisation across the board for all students, whether Muslim, Christian or any other religion. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As said during the introduction of my submissions, I cannot take for granted the weighty contributions that I have received from the Members of this House on the Motion that I introduced on standardising school uniforms and coming up with a Government policy so that we can bring some soberness in the industry. This Motion was introduced because of the many complaints that we have received as Members of Parliament, especially during this time when we are introducing junior secondary schools in our primary schools. Yesterday, I was in my village called Kambaa. I interacted with parents of Kanyore Primary School – one of the largest primary schools in Githiga Ward, Githunguri Constituency. It was shocking for me to learn that most of the junior secondary school learners are still at home because they cannot afford the new uniforms that have been introduced. Remember that they have now graduated to junior secondary schools in the same primary school that they were previously in, but they have to buy new uniforms. Unfortunately, this is happening across the country. It is time for us to standardise school uniforms. We should ask ourselves what material we should adopt if we are to introduce new uniforms. What quality of material should it be? What price should we not exceed? There are schools that make profits through the sale of basic requirements of school uniforms. A mere shirt that is worn by a boy aged seven years should not go beyond Ksh4,500. The same shirt goes for Ksh800 or Ksh1000 at most in the market. Why should a school dictate that a shirt worn by a Grade One or Grade Two boy be more than Ksh4,500? Our schools are not business centres. Unfortunately, they are becoming uniform business centres. Our teachers are not businessmen within the school compounds but unfortunately, they have become active businessmen. Cartels have come up in the school uniform industry. In my Githunguri Constituency, parents are forced to go to Kiambu Town, which is 26 kilometres away, yet there are tailors in a town in Githunguri who are not involved in the making of uniforms. A certain monied businessman has to influence teachers to direct all sales to their shops, therefore, rendering our tailors useless. My Motion towards standardisation urges the Ministry of Education to come up with a policy and guide on the quality, pricing, buying and making and even the colour of school uniforms. I have gathered many points from Members on how we can standardise school uniforms in the counties. We can decide that in County 001, students in public schools can wear a certain colour. In my county, we can direct that they wear a certain colour so that we stop this business of uniform vending across counties. I can buy a uniform in Mombasa for a child who is in Nairobi because tailors in Mombasa can make uniforms cheaper for a parent. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am one of those Members who have come back to this House for the second term having campaigned along the bottom-up policy. Therefore, I would recommend that we standardise school uniforms through the Ministry of Education so that we allow our tailors in the villages to start making uniforms, open up markets, create competition and lower the prices for the Kenyan parents, who are suffering. With those remarks, I beg to reply. Thank you

Thank you very much, Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba. I really share your sentiments. Hon. Members, I order that the Question on this Motion be put during the next Sitting for the reason indicated under Standing Order 53 (3). The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Hon. Members, I wish to recognise in the Speaker’s Gallery the presence of students from Ongata Senior School in Kajiado North Constituency, Kajiado County and students from St. Hannah Boys High School, Langata Constituency, Nairobi County. They are welcome to follow proceedings of the House this morning. Next Order.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg move the following Motion: THAT, aware that Article 57 of the Constitution outlines the measures to be taken to ensure the rights of elderly persons; noting that the elderly persons particularly from vulnerable background who are in dire need across the country require financial aid for their sustainability in regard to their health and wellbeing; recognising that the Older Persons Cash Transfer (OPCT) Programme w a s launched in 2007 with the purpose of facilitation of a monthly cash transfer to the disadvantaged and vulnerable elderly persons from identified deserving households who are 65 years and above across the country; concerned that registration of persons of 65 years and above was last conducted in the year 2016; cognisant of the fact that there are many elderly persons who have since attained the age of 65 years and are yet to be registered under the Older Persons Cash Transfer Programme ; further concerned that the programme has in the recent past undergone unprecedented encounters in regard to new entries, technological mode of fund transfer developments, digital registration of elderly persons, inadequate monitoring and irregular receipts of funds; this House resolves that the national Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, undertakes continuous and timely registration of elderly persons under the Older Persons Cash Transfer Programme. Hon. Temporary Speaker, let me start by confirming that the OPCT was launched in 2007 with the aim of providing a source of regular income for senior citizens to meet their basic needs. In 2013, there was enactment of the Social Assistance Act by Parliament, which established the National Social Assistance Authority tasked with providing social assistance to persons in need; the National Social Protection Policy that ensures that there is delivery of social assistance, a right of social security to the vulnerable is framed through the Social Assistance Act of 2013, which further led to the establishment of the National Safety Net Programme that houses the five cash transfer programmes including the OPCT. Coordination and overall management of the cash transfer programme for the elderly rests at the national level and is cascaded to the locational level through the sub-counties.

Order! The Hon. Member who has just come in; just go back to the Bar and bow. Go back to the Bar. When you get in here, you cannot crisscross the Floor the way you have done. Just go back to the Bar, bow and come back to the House normally.

The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Proceed, Member for Kilome.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for instilling discipline in our colleagues. They are still learning and we understand. The beneficiaries of this programme have to be 65 years old and above. On the criterion of the geographical location and income, Article 57 of the Constitution of Kenya outlines the need to address the challenges faced by the elderly and guarantees them their freedom and fundamental rights. The OPCT intends to ensure that the challenges of meeting basic needs facing the elderly are addressed. Most of the beneficiaries can at least afford two meals in a day when the funds are availed to them and this diminishes the chances of malnutrition. The vulnerability of falling ill has also been addressed through cash transfers, which help them to access medicines and pay for their transport to health facilities. I am pushing to have continuous registration of elderly persons across the country for cash transfers. The need for this cannot be overstated. It is aimed at ensuring that elderly persons live in dignity. The elderly in our society have very many challenges, including the risk of poor health, sickness, injuries and poverty. The number of these people keeps on increasing every year. The Government of Kenya recognises the importance of taking care of the elderly and vulnerable persons. That is why in 2007, there was a budgetary allocation for this programme. The number of beneficiaries has been increasing significantly since then. Hon. Temporary Speaker, as a result, this programme has made remarkable achievements such as ensuring access to basic healthcare, improved household food security, establishment of small-scale income generating initiatives leading to dignified living by the beneficiaries. However, registration of OPCT came to a stop in 2016. That is where the main concern is. The last registration was done in 2016, which is seven years down the line. That means there are very many elderly persons who have attained the age of 65 years and above who are not benefiting from this programme. As a result, they are suffering so much and the Government has to intervene through making sure that we have timely and continuous registration of elderly persons. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am aware that there are very many challenges facing this programme. Service delivery challenges have had negative effects on the effectiveness of this programme. It has been noted that delivery to the beneficiaries has been inadequate and has not been in a timely manner. There has also been delays in the disbursement of funds by the Government. Sometimes it may take three or four months without the release of the funds to the beneficiaries. The performance of the programme has also been affected by irregular and unpredictable payments. Inadequate monitoring of the programme has contributed to its ineffectiveness. So, we need to have a serious monitoring of this programme, the way we do when releasing funds for free secondary education. We have to keep monitoring how the funds are being released. The persons who have qualified need to be registered to enjoy the benefits that come with cash transfers to cushion them from poverty and inaccessibility to basic needs. Despite the many challenges facing the cash transfer programme for the elderly, there is a consensus that registration of beneficiaries of the programme has to continue from where it stopped in 2016. The benefits of the programme are crucial to the elderly, especially provision of basic needs. Further, given the dire economic situation in the country and the world, there are many adverse effects. There is drought and the cost of living is high. There is also need to ensure that persons who qualified in 2016, seven years down the line, are registered in the programme. Continuous registration has to be undertaken with immediate effect. Hon. Temporary Speaker, you will bear me witness that all Members of Parliament from the 290 constituencies have been facing challenges with regard to the elderly. When we The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

are in the field disbursing our bursaries, the old wazees visit us in our homes or they come to our offices thinking that Members of Parliament are supposed to be the ones giving out money from the cash transfer programme. I urge Hon. Members to push the Government to make sure there is continuous registration of elderly persons at sub-county levels, especially at the chiefs’ offices. I am talking about those who have attained 65 years of age, so that we have all elderly persons benefiting from the programme. With regard to the records, I suggest that those who have died be replaced. There must be monitoring of data from village to sub-county levels where we have constituency offices. I think we can have a programme where our staff work with the sub-county officers from the national Government right away from the grassroots, from the assistant chiefs to chiefs, so that we can identify all who have not been registered yet they have attained the age of 65 years. We will then ensure smooth running of the registration. I now open the Motion to Members, so that they can deliberate on it. Before that, I call upon Hon. Parashina to second the Motion. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

(Hon. David Ochieng

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I second the Motion by Hon. Nzambia, on continuous registration of beneficiaries to the Older Persons Cash Transfer Programme in the country. I start by acknowledging that there is quite a good population of the elderly in our constituencies many of whom are not registered with the Government special programme. That denies them the elderly social protection. The nature of our rural constituencies like Kajiado South, which I represent, are Arid and Semi Arid Lands where we have minimum road networks. This denies the elderly access to Government offices which are set up in urban areas. There is prevalence of disability among the elderly and that affects their productivity. They are unable to take care of themselves. I guarantee that they do not access healthcare and medication because their registration was last done in 2016. So, they do not have any other source of income. The current dire situation of drought in the country is really affecting the elderly. They do not have another option of survival. Of late, in our society, family responsibility has shifted to the elderly women who take care of grandchildren in villages. When we meet these elderly people, we see how they have turned into beggars because they do not have any other source of income. I second the Motion. I plead with fellow Members to support it. We are aware that the elderly are being isolated. If people isolate the elderly and the Government again isolates them, we do not know where they will go for help. We need to acknowledge and appreciate that most of the elderly people have contributed before in the building of this nation, either formally or informally. So, it is the right time that this Motion is debated and several ideas generated. The main issue is to let us start the process of registration and retain it. I second the Motion and thank you for the time.

(Hon. David Ochieng

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Motion. From the outset, I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate my brother, Hon. Nzambia, for coming up with this important Motion affecting the whole country. This is not a constituency issue, but a national issue. I also take this opportunity to thank the previous Government for the operationalisation of the cash transfer programme. We started badly, but we are doing well in disbursing the cash. We have seen services improve and move from the centre to ward levels. I want to highlight the benefits of the cash transfer programme. One, it improves the living conditions of our elderly ones. Many times, we have seen the vulnerable people who get this cash using it to buy food and going to hospital. We know the elderly are vulnerable when it comes to issues of health. So, this cash transfer programme is very important.

Two, it also helps them in accessing economic and social services. We have seen those who receive the money opening businesses which keep them busy. In so doing, they are kept active and this helps them to age gracefully. So, this cash transfer programme is very important because it has helped in reduction of extreme poverty and intergenerational transfer of poverty. So, it should be supported by everybody. As we may recall, the last countrywide registration exercise was done in 2016, seven years ago. Majority of the people who used to access the cash may no longer be existing and we have not seen any new replacements. The people who were 60 years then are now in the right bracket to access the cash yet the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has not updated its register. It is high time we did this exercise in an open and transparent manner to ensure that those who rightfully need the cash get it. We should consider increasing the budgetary allocation for the cash transfer programme in our next budget. That way, as many people as possible from all the 290 constituencies, will be in a position to access it. Indeed, we have seen its benefits. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I do not want to belabour the point. With those few remarks, I support.

You know when I am presiding, there are no two rules about this. If you are next in line, you contribute. Hon. Kirwa, this is your chance to contribute on the Motion.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this Motion on the cash transfer programme for the elderly. Truly, this Motion needs attention from all the Members. As a nation, we need to look into it. Cash transfer for the elderly has made a big difference in this country by improving their living standards and reducing poverty. The last registration took place in 2016 and several elderly people qualified for the programme, but for some reason, they have not been added to the roll of beneficiaries. I urge the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to take time and consider registering as many new members as possible, but more than anything, find a way of increasing the amount given. At the moment, I think it is Ksh2,100. I suggest that the amount should be increased to meet the high standards of living. When I go around Mosop Constituency, the question the older generation of people ask me is when they will be registered for the cash transfer programme. This is because a very small percentage of them is receiving the money. A huge population does not receive the money although they are qualified by age. Somehow when registration was taking place, some of them never got an opportunity to register and receive the cash transfer for the elderly. So, I support the Motion and we should embark on registration again. We should consider every single citizen who is qualified, but more than anything, consider the high cost The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

of living and increase the amount given to the elderly people. Beyond this, I believe that every citizen who is qualified should receive the money. The new registration should take place quickly so that the money can make a difference in the lives of the citizens of this country. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support the Motion.

Hon. Edith Nyenze.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for this opportunity. I want to congratulate Hon. Nzambia for coming up with this Motion on the cash transfer for the elderly. If there is a time when each one of us gets on the ground, it is when the elderly people come to us to ask when they will be registered and start getting money. There is need for continuous registration of the elderly to the programme. When one reaches the age of 70 years, they should automatically be registered to enable them get the money. As people grow older, they are exposed to many diseases and they become weaker. This is the time they really need the money. Most of these people are retired and do not have enough energy to work for themselves. The cash comes in handy especially in meeting their hospital bills. I want to suggest that in future, the money can be used to help them register for the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). So, from the Kshs2,000 they get, they can use Ksh500 for NHIF, which will cater for their medical needs. It is very important for this programme to be continuous because it will help poor households to reduce extreme poverty and intergenerational transfer of poverty. It will also improve our economy and the health of the elderly people. I support the Motion because it will enable the elderly to become economically stable. I have noticed another problem which the elderly face. As they grow older, there is no one to take care of them and this exposes them to insecurity. For example, last month, in my village, an old woman who was about 90 years old was killed after getting Ksh8,000. She was strangled and the money was stolen from her. So, there is need to ensure that the elderly are secure as they get the money. Their family members should take good care of them so that they are not exposed to insecurity. People are becoming poorer every day! You know Ksh8,000 means so much and it can attract thieves. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support the continuous registration and standardisation of the cash transfer fund. It should not be just for a few people, but for everyone who has attained the age of 65 years and above. Thank you, I support the Motion.

Hon. Pukose.

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipatia fursa hii ili niweze kuchangia Hoja ambayo imeletwa na Mhe. Thuddeus Nzambia, Mjumbe wa Mwingi Kaskazini. Pole, naomba msamaha, Mjumbe wa Kilome. Nataka kumshukuru kwa kuleta Hoja hii ambayo inazungumzia malipo ya uzeeni. Mara ya mwisho wazee walisajiliwa ilikuwa 2016. Wajumbe wengi wanapoenda nyumbani wanaulizwa na wazee kuhusu pesa za wazee. Hali ni kwamba wazee wengi ambao wametimu umri wa miaka sitini na tano kuendelea hawajasajiliwa. Huo ndio mjadala mkubwa kule mashinani. Ninafikiri hili Bunge litaunga mkono hii Hoja inayosema kwamba kusajiliwa kwa wazee kufanyike kila wakati. Kila mtu anazaliwa wakati tofauti, kwa hivyo wanafika umri wa miaka sitini na tano wakati tofauti. Mambo ya kusajili inafaa kufanyika kila wakati. Ofisi ya huduma za jamii, kwa mfano, katika Eneo Bunge langu la Endebess, pale karibu na ofisi ya Mkuu wa Wilaya, pawe pakifanyika usajili kila siku. Wale wafanyikazi wa serikali wanapoandikwa, wanapokea mshahara lakini hawatimizi jukumu lao la usajili. Mzee mmoja anaposajiliwa na mwingine akose, inachangia katika ufisadi kwa sababu wengine wanasajiliwa na wengine kuachwa. Kwa mfano, usajili ulifanywa 2016, sasa ni 2023, takriban miaka saba iliyopita. Mambo haya yanachangia katika ufisadi. Ndio maana unapoenda mashinani, kuna wale wazee wanaopokea marupurupu na kuna wale ambao hawapati na wanaumia. Malipo The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

haya yanafaa kulipwa kwa wakati ufaao na kwa njia inayofaa. Wakati mwingine wazee wanapoenda kwenye foleni ya kupokea marupurupu, huwa ndefu. Wao hulazimika kwenda kupiga foleni mapema na mwishowe kuhisi njaa wakingojea. Ni shida kubwa. Wazee wanangoja kupata marupurupu ambayo huja baada ya miezi sita. Kufikia wakati wa uchaguzi mkuu uliopita, marupurupu haya hayakuwa yanalipwa. Serikali ya Rais William Ruto ndiyo imeanza kuwalipa. Wakati huo kila ulipoenda mashinani, ungewapata wazee wengi wakilia njaa na shida nyingi. Ninafikiri hili jambo ambalo limeletwa na Mhe. Nzambia ni nzuri. Tunataka Bunge liamue na pesa iwekwe na Kamati ya Bajeti kwa wakati mzuri. Serikali pia izingatie suala hili kwa njia nzuri ili wale wazee wote ambao wanahusika waweze kuwekwa kwa orodha na waanze kupata marupurupu mara moja. Ninashukuru kwa nafasi ya kuchangia Hoja hii. Ninaunga mkono Hoja hii na ninataka Bunge hili liipitishe haraka ndiposa Serikali itenge pesa na wazee walipwe.

Asante sana. Nafasi hii itamwendea Mhe. Adams Kipsanui wa Keiyo Kusini.

Asante Sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Vile vile ningependa kuchukua nafasi hii kuchangia Hoja hii ya uandikishaji wa pesa za wazee katika jamii. Ningependa kumshukuru sana Mhe. Nzambia kwa kuleta Hoja hii. Kama tunavyojua sote, uchumi wa taifa letu uko katika hali ngumu. Kwa kweli, wazee wetu ambao walifanya kazi nyingi ya kujenga taifa wanapitia mazito. Pesa hizi zitawasaidia ili kuhakikisha wanajikimu maslahi yao kama vile vyakula, dawa, kusaidia jamii yao na matumizi mengine mengi. Wakongwe katika jamii yetu hawapewi kipaumbele na baadhi ya jamaa zao. Kwa hivyo, pesa hizi zitawasaidia sana kukimu maisha yao. Kule mashinani baadhi ya maswali ni haya: Ni lini tutapewa pesa hizi ili tuweze kujisaidia? Kwa mfano, katika Eneo Bunge langu la Keiyo Kaskazini, wazee wengi wanauliza ni mtindo upi unaotumiwa kubagua yule anayehitimu na asiyehitimu? Tunafaa kuangalia suala hili ili tuweze kuwanufaisha wote ambao wamefika miaka sitini na tano na zaidi. Ningependa pia kuunga mkono mchango ambao ulitolewa na Mheshimiwa mmoja, kwamba iwapo tunataka kuwasajili wazee na kuhakikisha kuwa wanapata pesa hizi sharti tujiulize: Ni mpango upi utawekwa ili kuhakikisha wale wanaostahili kupata hela wasivamiwe? Pendekezo nzuri ni kwamba ni vizuri kuhusisha watawala kama machifu, na wazee wa mtaa kuwalinda. Ningependa kuunga mkono Hoja hii kwa sababu hizi pesa zitawezesha familia za wazee kuwatunza kwa heshima na hadhi wanayostahili. Tuko katika jamii ambayo bila pesa ya kujilinda, maisha ni magumu. Kwa hayo na mengine mengi, ninaunga mkono Hoja hii.

Asante. Hii nafasi ni ya Mbunge wa Khwisero.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Atandi, why are you raising your hand up? I can see your name here. You will have your chance when the time comes.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for according me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion by my good friend Hon. (Eng.) Nzambia. His Motion is to ensure that there is continuous and timely registration of the elderly in our society. I wish to recommend that we include people living with disability, orphans and also people with some acute conditions. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Having this process done will guarantee good life to these senior citizens because they will have enough food to support their lives and their families. Having these people register at the right time will also guarantee them good health as they will access quality healthcare and spur economic growth because there will be increased circulation of money and the high purchasing power will improve our economy. As we do this, we must ensure that this process is fair so that all eligible needy and elderly persons are registered. Those who are pensionable should be accorded the opportunity to be in this list. As we do the payments to the elderly people in society, we must ensure that payments are done through an electronic system. We have had challenges when paying the elderly because they crowd in one place. When their payment is via an electronic platform, it will ensure that there are no congestions, no fake people coming to broker them, and they get their money at the point of need.

Hon. Wamuchomba.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. First of all, allow me to congratulate Hon. Nzambia, a very aggressive lawmaker and a second time Member of Parliament. He has decided to bring salvation to the elderly persons of Kenya. Congratulations Hon. Nzambia. The elderly Kenyans are somehow forgotten. They have no voice. If Hon. Members do not come to this House to represent them, they have no one to turn to. Hon. Temporary Speaker, allow me to say that the issue of elderly Kenyans is a very sensitive one and it needs to be given a lot of weight which it deserves. These are the people who fought for the independence of the Republic of Kenya. They took care of us and took us to school. They worked so hard to make Kenya grow economically, politically, and socially to where it is now. Unfortunately, when most of these people retire as public servants, they do not have a medical cover, yet that is the time they are very vulnerable to all manner of diseases. The Government of Kenya, through Article 57 of the Constitution, is obliged to take care of the elderly Kenyans. Unfortunately, we have been discriminative. We provide the social assistance programmes to these people discriminatively. We entrust the area chiefs and sub-chiefs to take care of our people but they seem to discriminate against the elderly persons, especially during registration for the social assistance programme. I, as a lawmaker want, first of all, to make it very clear that I have invested very seriously in the elderly persons. For records, I already have a Geriatric Bill, 2020, which I tried to table in the 12th Parliament, but I did not succeed to push it to the end. I am excited because through an amendment of the Standing Orders, I now have an opportunity to push it to the 13th Parliament. It is already published. I want to add something to Hon. Nzambia’s Motion. It is the right of the elderly persons of Kenya to get social assistance without begging from the chiefs and sub-chiefs to be registered for social assistance programmes. In the past, the elderly persons were only allowed to get into the registry of social assistance programme if they proved that they do not have a dignified house or dependent children or caregivers who earn well. This is a task that an area chief cannot prove. Therefore, registrations were done discriminatively. There are so many elderly persons in the villages who do not receive the monthly stipends just because they were discriminated against during registration. The fact that my mother lives in a stone house does not mean she has an income. She could have got it through her late husband who is no longer providing. She could have been working somewhere and, of course, had income, but now she is retired and cannot even afford a cup of tea. Therefore, it is important for us to come up with a serious Bill. We need to make a law that will provide for a dignified social assistance programme for our elderly persons in Kenya. Other than just the social assistance, we need to look at the health of the elderly people. We need to provide medical care for them. If you go to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), you will find all manner of doctors. I am humbled to see some of the doctors who have served The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

in KNH in this House like Hon. (Dr) Nyikal. Allow me to say it as it is. We have specialised doctors for children and women, but we do not have specialised doctors for elderly persons. It is called geriatric medicine. If you go to all the local institutions that train in medicine, you will not find one that offers geriatric medicine. When elderly persons are admitted in a ward, they are only allowed to go to a female ward or male ward. We do not have geriatric wards. We mix our 92-year-olds with, say, 26-year-olds in the same ward. We give them the same food and medical services. It is time for us to create geriatric wards and introduce geriatric medicine in our hospitals, so that we can dignify the health services given to our elderly persons. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I can speak forever about the elderly persons in this country because they are even exposed. Their land is being taken from them forcefully by their sons and daughters and the National Police Service does not have a way of protecting them.

Hon. Wamuchomba, are you debating your Bill?

I am sorry, I am not. I am supporting Hon Nzambia, but I stand guided, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

I request that you stick to the Motion on the Floor.

Thank you. The initiative that has been brought to this House by Hon. Nzambia is actually the right way to go. We need to debate, enact and amend laws, so that we can accommodate our elderly persons in the national Government budget. We should give them a budget they deserve for a dignified life and protection by the Government of Kenya. Therefore, I proudly support the Motion and request the House to support it. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

This chance goes to the Member for Kipkelion West.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to congratulate my friend, Hon. Nzambia, for coming up with this important Motion which touches on the cash transfer for elderly people. At the outset, I want to state that I support it, but beyond the continuous registration, I ask the House to allocate resources to be availed to the old Kenyans who have been registered. When this programme was started, way back, it targeted the elderly poor who lived below one dollar a day. That is why you arrive at Ksh2,100 because the dollar at that time was Ksh70. When you multiply by 30, it comes to Ksh2,100. However, as we talk, the dollar is at Ksh120. We need to register the old Kenyans and increase resources to help them to live quality life. Therefore, it is also prudent that while we continue to register, we know that the dollar is now at Ksh120. Therefore, the cash transfer should be increased to Ksh3,600 on the minimum. This requires this House to collectively support the Departmental Committee on Social Protection to avail resources so that when the elderly Kenyans are registered, the resources find their way to the village where most of them are. As we speak, only 853,000 of them have been put on the programme against a target of four million elderly persons in the Republic of Kenya. The State Department for Social Protection in its Budget Policy Statement (BPS) intends to add this by a paltry 100,000 old persons. We ask this House to inject resources so that we can register even two million people into the programme. As we do that, we must also ask the ministry to invest in technology, so that our old people will stop queueing in the chiefs’ offices and assistant chiefs. Before they are paid, they are made to give a bribe so that they can get what is duly theirs. It is important for the ministry to invest in technology that can even update the data of those who have been registered. The system should remove those who have gone through natural attrition so that we remain with a specific number of the real people to The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

benefit out of the social programme. It is not expensive to ask Kenyans, through this honourable House, to support their elderly people. Even on relief food, if we map the areas where people are suffering from hunger and give them money from the cash transfer programme, they can buy their own food. There will be no need of fuelling lorries every other time and allowing corruption to thrive even as we try to help the people of Kenya to live a dignified life. This is in line with the Kenya Kwanza’s Manifesto, especially where it says that the Kenya Kwanza Government will register all elderly persons in the new National Health Insurance Fund platform. This is a Motion that calls for additional resources to the State Department for Social Protection so that we can increase the numbers from the one million that we are projecting this year to two million persons thus guaranteeing a minimum of 10,000 persons in each of the 290 constituencies. The programme, before, was skewed to areas which were politically correct. It is time to call for fairness. The elderly of Kenya deserve attention in an equal manner. I support the Motion.

I suppose that is the Vice-Chair of the Social Protection Committee and that is why he is passionate about this matter so much. Hon. Nyamai Rachel, proceed.

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipatia fursa hii niweze kuchangia Hoja hii ambayo imeletwa na Mhe. Thuddeus Nzambia, Mbunge wa Kilome. Nataka kumshukuru sana kwa sababu amekuwa akileta mijadala ambayo inasaidia wananchi. Pia amekuwa akifanyia watu wa Kilome kazi nzuri sana. Mimi kama Mbunge wa Kitui Kusini, jambo hili la kuendelea kuandikisha watu ambao wamefikisha miaka 70 ni jambo muhimu sana kwa wananchi wa kwangu wa kaunti ndogo za Ikutha na Mutomo. Mara ya mwisho watu walisajiliwa ilikuwa ni mwaka wa 2016 wakati tulikuwa tunakaribia uchaguzi. Wale ambao walikuwa miaka 69 wakati huo, saa hii wamepitisha miaka 77. Ninaunga mkono kwamba hawa watu wanafaa kusajiliwa mara moja kupitia kwa maeneo Bunge sana sana yale yako na zaidi ya kaunti ndogo mbili kama vile eneo Bunge langu. Utapata kwamba katika eneo Bunge langu la Kitui Kusini wazee hawasajiliwi katika kaunti ndogo ya Ikutha ama ya Mutomo. Miongoni mwa hawa watu, wengine wamezeeka hata hawaskii na wengine hawaoni. Kwa hivyo, hii inafaa ipelekwe katika kaunti ndogo, kata, kata ndogo hadi chini kwa wazee wa mtaa. Kama hawajajua, wafikishiwe habari hiyo. Jambo lingine muhimu sana ni kuweka pesa ya kutosha. Machifu na manaibu wao wasibague wazee ambao wanapaswa kufaidika kutokana na huu mpango. Tusipozingatia hilo, inamaanisha kwamba wazee wanaweza kutengwa kama hawana watu wa kuwatetea. Jambo lingine ni kuhakikisha kwamba wazee wote wale wako katika mradi huu wameingizwa katika NHIF. Nataka kushukuru sana NHIF kwa sababu wanatibu magonjwa kama vile saratani, na wanafanya upasuaji spesheli yaani specialised surgery . Hii ni kwa sababu hawa wazee ndio wako na hizo shida ambazo zinahitaji upasuaji. Aidha wanahitaji madawa ya magonjwa yanayowapata. Tunapoweka pesa katika mradi huu tukumbuke kwamba Ksh2,100 hazitoshi. Mbunge wa Kipkelion West na Mhe. Thuddeus Nzambia wamesema kwamba hizi pesa hazitoshi na ni vizuri ziongezwe kupita Ksh3,000. Hivyo, nia iliyowekwa na waanzilishi wa mradi huu itakamilika. Na sasa kwa sababu tunampatia Mheshimiwa Rais kipaumbele katika kufanya kazi yake, ninataka kama Mbunge wa Kitui Kusini kumwambia aangalie sana mambo ya wazee kwa sababu wanahitaji mpango huu wa uzeeni. Huu mpango unawawezesha kupata mahitaji yao ya kila siku hasa dawa. Pia wanawezeshwa kuzuru sehemu mbali mbali jambo ambalo linawapa maisha marefu. Mhe. Spika wa Muda, utakumbuka kwamba mtu ambaye anangojea kitu anaweza kuishi muda mrefu. Unapongojea mwisho wa mwezi ufike ili upate Ksh2,000 hiyo inaweza The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

kukusaidia kuongeza maisha yako. Wale ambao wanawachunga wazee waendelee hivyo ili waendelee kukaa katika familia zao na kuwaletea hizo pesa kila mwezi. Ninapomshukuru Mhe. Nzambia kwa kazi nzuri, nakushukuru nawe kwa kunipatia nafasi hii.

Member for Masinga. In his absence, Member for Alego Usonga, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute to this very important Motion. This is one of the most consequential Motions that I have seen on the Floor of this House by a Member of this House. This Motion has been presented by a Member from the Minority side. We are in a new dispensation and we have a new Government. Just the other day, we were going through campaigns and we made various promises to Kenyans, but it looks like the regime in town is interested only in killing old people. I feel, from where I sit, that there is a conspiracy by the leadership of this country to ensure that this country does not benefit from the wisdom of the elderly.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

What is your point of Order?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, if my ears serve me right, I heard the Member say that the regime in town is only interested in killing people. Is it in Order? Killing in which order? Who is interested in killing who? Can he substantiate and give evidence to this House?

Hon. Atandi, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I wish the Member would just listen so that she could understand the flow of thoughts that I am trying to present on the Floor of the House. If you take some more minutes, you will realise that the point I have raised on the future of old people in this country is justified. Allow me to continue with my line of thinking.

Hon. Atandi, I also heard the words you used that the system is interested in killing its own people.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I said failure to attend to the welfare of the old people in this country by the new regime in town is akin to participating in diminishing the health and welfare of the old people in the country. That is what I have said and as I continue, I will explain further. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the old people in this country are the custodians of wisdom, but they are not beneficiaries of universal health scheme that is implemented by the Government.

On a point of Order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Muhia, what is out of Order?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I think the Member should withdraw his remarks because you can put your thoughts to this House in a rephrased diplomatic manner. I think the words he is using are not proper before the House and for him to continue… I beg that he withdraws his remarks.

(Hon. David Ochieng’)

Hon. Temporary Speaker, unfortunately, I do not come from the same school of thought as the other Members and neither do we come from the same ideological framework. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Hon. Atandi, I insist you substantiate the statement you made by telling us how many have been murdered by this particular situation.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, many Kenyans die daily. I am sure if I asked you for a list…

Hon. Atandi, I insist. I was seated on the Chair and I heard you say that this regime has murdered a number of people. Give us a list or withdraw and apologise.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I can give you a list of Kenyans who died and were buried last weekend. Is that what you want?

Members are unfair to me.

Order, Member for Alego Usonga! You shall substantiate how many people this regime has killed or murdered, or apologise and withdraw.

The point I am trying to raise is not to say that the Government has taken a bullet or a gun and killed some people. I think that is the interpretation from that side. That is not what I have said. It is because of the failure by the Government to address the concerns of the old poor people in this country that has led to the death of many people in this country.

Hon. Atandi, it is therefore clear that the regime has not killed or murdered anybody. Would you just withdraw those statements and proceed with your contribution?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, it is the duty of the Government to ensure that lives are protected.

Order! Order, Hon. Atandi! We insist that you withdraw your statement and then proceed with your contribution.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the right to live is constitutional and must be protected by the Government of Kenya.

What you said is that this regime has murdered a number of people. You do not have the list of those who have been murdered. The order is that you substantiate or withdraw your statement.

By reference, the Government has contributed to the deaths of poor innocent people by failing to provide for them basic needs like health, food, water and the rest. I am not saying that there is gun that has been used to kill Kenyans. Hon. Temporary Speaker, allow me to continue.

You will not continue in that manner. You have to withdraw and apologise.

Order, Hon. Atandi. Standing Order 107(1)(g) says the following: “A Member commits an act of disorderly conduct if the Member– (g) makes allegations without, in the Speaker’s opinion, adequate substantiation;” The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

You have alleged that the current regime has murdered people. I have asked you for a list of those who have been murdered, but you have not produced any. I order that you withdraw the statement or substantiate.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I withdraw the statement simply because of the respect I have for you, as my senior. However …

You do not have to give conditions.

I withdraw.

Thank you. Proceed.

I want to inform Members of the responsibility that the elderly in this country are facing. Most of them take care of grandchildren who are abandoned by their children, and who are either jobless, are in towns or cities looking for how to fend for themselves; or orphans whose parents passed on because of various deseases such as HIV/AIDS; and children left to them by young people who are living in the slums and are trying to survive. Lack of housing is another problem that is facing the elderly. Many of the elderly that I have visited in the villages across the country – whether in Baringo, Turkana or Siaya – do not have shelter. This is happening when we know that Government functionaries like the presidency live in opulence. If you see the kind of life that they live and the resources that the Government has availed to themselves - officers and Ministers - it is outrageous. We cannot afford to have a luxurious Government like the one we have when many of our poor people in the villages cannot afford basic needs like meals and water. This House, therefore, must act by ensuring that the next Budget must accommodate funds that would be sent to the elderly across the country. Lastly, the continuous registration of the elderly is something that we do not need to remind a serious Government…

Give him half a minute.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I was interrupted by the calls to withdraw my previous statement. If we had a serious Government, we would not need Members of the Opposition to remind us that there are elderly persons in the villages who need to be registered and provided for. Lastly, the last time the registered members who are meant to benefit from this Fund received their money was around four months ago, after a year’s hiatus. As a House, we need to compel the Government to ensure that the future of our elderly people is taken care of. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support.

A very good contribution, but it has been messed up by your own drama. I now order that the offensive words that were uttered by Hon. Atandi be expunged from the Hansard . This chance goes to the Member for Manyatta.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise in support of this Motion in cognisant that we, Africans, are taught from a young age to respect the elderly. It is African for us to take care of our elderly people and ensure that they have the good lives that they dreamt of. Right now, anybody who is above 70 years was here when we were fighting for Independence. If I am not wrong, this is someone who was in his or her youth. Most probably, those are people who have participated in the search for freedom of this country. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

The social programme that involves giving money to our elderly is among the best that we have in this country, and a policy that needs to be defended. Just like the many Motions we have passed in this House, I hope this is taken seriously by the Ministry concerned. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I seek your guidance. What happens after we pass Motions here that are supposed to help this country in terms of governance, and ensure that we make good what we get in our Exchequer? Number one, I really recommend a continuous registration of the elderly so that we have updated data at every single time. I say that knowing very well that the data we are using right now is outdated. In my constituency, every time I stop in any town, wazees always tell me that they are not registered for that programme. I feel it is some sort of negligence, knowing very well that this is a digital age. As we speak, the Government has taken advantage of mobile phones and is registering farmers to get fertiliser without a big hustle. The other time when His Excellency the President gave out some money, I saw a queue of elderly people from all over the county in Embu Town. They were queueing there day and night, waiting for the Ksh2,000. I felt so sad. I went to the bank that was involved and almost caused havoc. I did not understand why a 90-year-old man sleeps somewhere for two days to get some money. This is a call to the people concerned to shape up. I thank the Member who has come up with this Motion. We are going to follow up, as a House, once this Motion is passed, to ensure the Ministry concerned ensures that the elderly people are treated with respect. There are many things that are going on in the country right now. People are demonstrating about past elections and about the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. The real demonstration should be around the welfare of the elderly people. That is when demonstrations will make sense. The rest of the things are sideshows. Even the leaders of the demonstrations, if they were not rich, could be enjoying the Ksh2,000 we are asking for the elderly people. I will be in the frontline to ensure that this Motion is passed and that we increase the money allocated to the elderly.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Masara, what is out of order?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, is it in order for the Member to say that leaders of the demonstrations are rich? Can he substantiate the value of their wealth? Let him also name the leaders of the demonstrations. Yesterday, Kenyans decided on their own to demonstrate to protect their businesses and against the Government they voted for. The leader of Kenya Kwanza is His Excellency William Ruto. So, was it Ruto leading that demonstration or who was leading it? Let me know these facts from him.

It is okay.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I think the Member is trying to overthink about my statement. So many demonstrations are going on in this country. I have not mentioned any name. I have only said some leaders who are leading those demonstrations are very rich.

Hon. Gitonga, you are advised to wind up your contribution.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, it is true that if those people want to change this country, they could focus their demonstrations…

Hon. Gitonga, wind up your contribution and be relevant.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, in winding up, this Motion is welcome. We should ensure that when this House passes a Motion, it should be taken seriously. I seek your guidance so that we do not pass Motions in vain. We passed a Motion on the school feeding programme – a brilliant Motion – but nothing has happened since The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

then. We have passed a Motion on many other things. We need to start following up on those Motions so that they do not become pieces of paper lying somewhere collecting dust. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Thank you so much. There is a committee called the Committee on Implementation.

Hon. Waqo, what is out of order?

Just a point of information. In the Supplementary Budget that was passed yesterday, the school-feeding has been budgeted for. Thank you.

Well, this chance now goes to the Member for Kisii County. She will be followed by the Member for Seme.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This is a good debate. Hon. Nzambia, bravo. We are with you. I support the Motion because the elderly people have many demands, starting from the need to have access to adequate food, water, clothing, housing and health. All these challenges need adequate resources. I urge our institutions to engage in training of staff to enhance competencies and ensure that they have the administrative capacity to cater for the needs of the older persons. If you conducted random sampling, you would realise that staff who work in those offices do not have the capacity and competence required. The way they handle the elderly people is not in order.

I have one point to pass to the youth. The youth of this country do not have respect to the elderly people, specifically in the way they think of the elderly. Old age is gold but because of the problem of bed-wetting, they are always looked down upon instead of being helped. Our youth should be told that old age is gold, and they should be the champions in taking care of the elderly in the society. The elderly people also need to be facilitated in terms of their health. Most of them do not talk of their health status. For example, those with prostate cancer hardly speak about it or go to health facilities to seek help. We should take care of the elderly, right from increasing resources to them. I insist on an electronic means of disbursing their allowances because it saves time and the money reaches the right people. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you, Hon. Members. The next opportunity goes to the Member for Seme, Hon. (Dr.) Nyikal.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. Let me start by congratulating the Member who has brought this Motion. I am really excited about it because when I started the programme in 1997 after a visit to Brazil, many people thought it was far-fetched and not necessary. But here we are. We have realised that this is an extremely important programme. Before, old people were looked after by their children. With the movement of people to towns, the old people are left in their homes. Insurance companies do not even cover old people when it comes to healthcare. They needed special protection and that is why we developed this programme, which we fashioned on the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Programme in Brazil. It was so popular such that the President who started it, despite being forcefully taken to jail, came out and won the elections. It is not only the old people’s cash transfer, but part of the bigger programme of social protection that we started at that time, which included cash transfer for orphans and vulnerable children, which was made worse at that time because of HIV/AIDS. Apart from having difficulty with looking after themselves, those old people were also looking after their grandchildren whose parents had died from HIV/AIDS. It is also part of the programme of cash transfer for persons with severe disabilities. People with severe disabilities who need care are a big burden to the society. That is because it is not just themselves, but people who look after them are also locked up and are unable to do any meaningful work. This is a programme that is desirable, and I want to thank

for bringing it back. People did not see its value, but I am so happy that I have been vindicated that this thing was actually necessary. We started it with a policy in 2007, and that is why I was saying earlier on that there is a deficit of policy in our governance. The policy went into place in 2007 and it laid out exactly what should be done. The Constitution came in 2010, when the policy was actually in place, which again strengthened it. In 2013, there was the Social Assistance Act, which provided for an authority, which has unfortunately not been operationalised. We are working in an environment where the legal framework is actually weak. We need to look at that. Members have indicated that there was discrimination, but the reality was that when we started, people felt it was just a pilot project. I remember the Treasury called and gave me Ksh500 million and asked whether I could start it. We had to start with meagre resources, and that is why we had to get a means of identifying people. We were using a means testing area such as your means of income and so on. We did not have enough money, and we had to cut off the age at 65. We also said that after the means testing, this was to be subjected to public opinion by members. That has not worked very well because the chiefs and assistant chiefs seem to influence it. Later, the policy that was suggested – and I would recommend that we go to that policy – was to get enough finances and put the cut-off above that age so that everybody gets it. Three years ago, as a Member of Parliament, we worked with the Ministry of Labour and we recommended that if you increase the age to 70, then we would be able to get enough money so that everybody above 70 years gets the stipend. In this case, you did not have to know whether they have other incomes, and that is what should be going on. If we do not have enough money, let us go by 70 years, take everybody registered every year and give them the money. That is actually what we need to do. The registration process should not be too complex. We can use the registration that we already have, just as we do with the registration of voters and identity cards. Every year, we can use electronic means of disbursing this money, because disbursement is another challenge. We are using banks, their agents and e-cards. Sometimes, the wazees go and they do not get that money because either their fingerprints cannot be read, or their cards have not been replaced. People really suffer. We need to streamline this. The Ksh1,500 was the beginning point. But in 2008, there was a Motion in Parliament to increase it. I was not in Parliament when it was recommended that we increase it from Ksh1,500 to Ksh2,000. That was implemented. I was in the Ministry and we immediately implemented it. I want to tell our colleagues that this is the time to implement all that. If we mean what we are saying, then we need to allocate more money during this budget time. We can calculate the amount of money that is needed for all our old people above 70 years and deposit money in their accounts. We must also look at the means of delivery. The banks and agents should have proper systems, and those wazees do not have to go there and stay for two days without being paid. Some of them also need caretakers because they are even blind. This is a serious issue that needs to be looked into. I think we should digitalise the whole system. Registration should be automatic on age, and we should have a single registry. That was also in the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

programme so that once you are in that registry, you do not get double dipping because if you go to the counties, they are also giving some money. Some Ministries also have social protection programmes. The ASALs have a cash transfer programme. We should develop a single registry such that once you are there, you get the money because there is no duplication. We must support this programme. I am a member of the Social Protection Committee, and we are proposing that more money is allocated. We must do regular registration digitally and use modern digitisation to issue that money to the wazees . With those remarks, I support and congratulate the Member for coming up with this Motion. Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr.) Rachael Nyamai): I do not have a microphone. Thank you very much Member for Seme. Hon. Wanjiku Muhia, Member for Kipipiri.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. From the outset, I want to support this Motion. I want to first start by congratulating the Member for bringing this Motion to the House. This is timely since this House has created the Social Protection Committee. Those aged people are very special and a delicate group that needs special attention accorded to them. It is time that this House relooks at the population versus the age. When we identify them at the age of 65, the numbers will be so huge such that we cannot increase the amount, which is now Ksh2,000. We may opt to increase the age bracket to about 70 years so that we are able to increase the amount. Honestly speaking, with the current economic situation, Ksh2,000 per month is quite minimal. This House, through the Special Protection Committee, needs to relook at the age versus the population and come up with a solution. We need to agree on the correct age that we can adopt. We should also look at the budget and, as much as we fight for our roads, water, electricity and all other social amenities, we should also look at this programme with the seriousness it deserves and allocate a budget that would be enough for that. The big animal on this matter is the disbursement of those funds. If you go to the constituencies, you will find a 100-year-old man seated in a corner in a bank somewhere waiting to withdraw Ksh2,000, and because the fingerprints are not able to show, he has to wait there. I can say that this money is not distributed very smoothly. I think this House has to guide the country and the Ministry by bringing and developing better means on how that money can be disbursed. The country can use the mobile money transfer system or heavily invest in it once and for all. We can even invest or purchase small mobile phones or find out how that money can reach the aged at their homesteads instead of them travelling long distances.

Having said that, there is another issue. Members spoke of capacity building. This is another animal in this Ministry, and I can confirm. I want to bring it to the attention of these Members that there are some activities that are currently going on. I learned about this one when I was in my church on Sunday, when I heard an announcement. Hon. Temporary Speaker, you may not be aware and yet, it could be happening in your county also. This Ministry, through the Directorate of Social Welfare, has sent their staff to the ground in 20 counties to restructure the system. It is a very sad affair. The whole of yesterday, I was struggling with the administration in Kipipiri Constituency. I happened to be in my constituency doing bursary form issuance, and I saw a huge stranded crowd in a certain stadium. When I went there, I found old men and women aged 80, 90 to 100 years, hungry and thirsty under very harsh conditions of the sun. The chief, assistant chief and the Assistant County Commissioner were not there. I struggled to find out whoever was addressing those people and found two officers from that department who told me they were conducting an election. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, how can a 100-year-old man even know or conceptualise an election? This election was to spearhead their matters. I asked my Deputy County Commissioner to call off those meetings and plan them afresh because ideally, they would still elect caregivers. So, it beats the logic that the caregivers will be elected and yet, they came with their old parents. Why are we making our old parents struggle? At their age, some have impaired hearing, while others have impaired vision. Some of them came by means of bodaboda . I witnessed a situation where a boda boda carrying one old woman was unable to cross a small trench, and she fell off the motorbike. I witnessed another who collapsed and fainted because she was hungry. I had to stop all my programmes on bursaries and organise for energy drinks and something for those people to eat because they had come from long distances. I want, through this Motion to this Ministry, to order that even if they do not have the capacity, they should have humane eyes. They cannot conduct meetings for the old for purported elections while the old cannot see, hear or even understand what the election is all about. Hon. Temporary Speaker, we know the administrations are key pillars in this country and when those kinds of structures are to be administered, it is paramount that the Ministry, through their directorate and their officers, involve the local administrators like the chiefs, assistant chiefs and the Assistant County Commissioners, because those are the people who will give them ideas. Directors are seated here in Nairobi and they give guidelines and timelines. When I enquired further, I was informed that this process must end by Wednesday and, therefore, they cannot stop. Another meeting was happening in another location and they have to travel to the ward level, not even at the sub-location level. So, in essence, I am saying that there is a need for capacity building and for the directors in Nairobi to understand the ground, that those are old people who cannot travel or vote, but have caregivers who can handle the matter on their behalf.

Finally, Hon. Temporary Speaker, as we relook at the disbursement, it can also be a nightmare because some of those caregivers squander the money belonging to the old people that they are supposed to look after. So, it is a very delicate issue. I think that is why the Government was coming up with the system of banking. All the same, the 100-year-old going all way from Kipipiri to Ol-Kalou where we have the nearest bank is also very troublesome. So, I want to call on the Departmental Committee on Social Protection to burn the midnight oil and come up with better ways of disbursement, because it is a real problem. We call this Ministry to order. Let them stop organising meetings that are designed for Kenyans living in Nairobi or the youth, and come up with better plans and give capacity. Equally we, as a House, ought to allocate enough budget because I also see they are overwhelmed. You will find that in a sub-county, that Ministry has only one staff who is handling more than 500 or 1,000 old people.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I also want to provoke Members’ thoughts in terms of healthcare. I think through the county governments, we can also create a department for the old. You will find an 80 to 90-year-old grandmother going to hospital and being attended to by a very young man such that communication is even a challenge. You will find those young people - who are our sons and daughters - always in a hurry. So, at times, they do not even get the right healthcare in cases where old people feel shy not wanting to be undressed. As a Government and a House, it is time we came up with a healthcare policy where we create a department for the old and any old person who goes, let us say to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), knows that there is a specific department where they can be accorded fast-tracked services and handled by staff of the right age.

With that, Hon. Temporary Speaker, I will be putting a Question to this House in the course of the week or next week about those purported elections for the old, which is purely mistreatment. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Thank you very much.

(Hon. (Dr) Racheal Nyamai): Very well-spoken Member of Kipipiri. Hon. Members, I would like to recognise students seated at the Public Gallery from St. Monica, Munyaka Girls Secondary, Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County. I would like to welcome you to the National Assembly so that we may continue following the proceedings of the House. Thank you, Hon. Members. The next opportunity goes to Hon. Joshua Mwalyo, Member for Masinga.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for this opportunity that you have granted me to speak on the reintroduction of continuous registration of elderly persons in our society. First, I would like to congratulate Hon. Nzambia for this great Motion that he has brought to this House so that we can debate about our elderly people. It is very important to know that everybody in this House, whether young or old, will become elderly someday, and it is good to take care of ourselves when we reach that age. So, we need to put something in this Government. In fact, it should be a law that everybody who attains the age of 65 or 70 should automatically be enrolled to be receiving that stipend from the Government. That should be entrenched in our law. It should be in the Constitution. This is something which we ought not to belabour all the time through legislation, as we all come from families with elderly people. I am sure that everybody here has a mother, grandmother, grandfather and other elderly relatives who need to be taken care of by the Government, to which they have been paying taxes since they were young. In short, this is what we need to be doing as a country. In other countries, people are paid even when they are not old. For example, if you are unemployed in the United States of America, you get a cheque at the end of the month. You may even be between 25 to 30 years old. In Kenya, we are talking about people who are unable to work. Some of them have never been to school so as to be employed. We, therefore, need to take care of the elderly. The Bible says that when we mind our parents, our days on earth will be increased. Secondly, there is something that I realised when I became a Member of Parliament in 2017. I found out that the elderly were always sick, and they would always demand for money from me. So, I used the social kitty in the NG-CDF, and I started paying the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) fees for them. At the moment, I am paying annual charges for 1,040 elderly members who have been added to the scheme. That has helped me because they no longer come to me for money to go to hospital. I urge every Member of Parliament to look at the NG-CDF Act. There is a social kitty amount that you can use to pay for the elderly so that they are taken care of when they get sick. In my constituency, 1,040 elderly people go to hospital with their identity cards, and they are treated. That is what the Government should do. Last year, the Government registered those who receive a stipend of Ksh2,000 or Ksh4,000 for the NHIF, so that the Government pays for them and, at the same time, takes care of their health. It is very important for us to mind the elderly so that our days are prolonged, as the Bible says. As we take care of the elderly, we need to come up with a Bill to build homecare facilities. Many youths who have gone to the USA are trained in colleges on how to take care of the elderly in homecare facilities. We, therefore, need to task this Government to take care of the elderly and to also build homes for them. It is only the Catholic Church that has built a few homes to take care of the elderly. We need to sensitise the Government to build those homes. With those few remarks, I would like to donate my time to other Members to also contribute. Thank you. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you very much, Member for Masinga. Hon. Caroline Ng’elechei, Member for Elgeyo Marakwet. In the absence of Hon. Ng’elechei, I would like to give this opportunity to Hon. Melly, Member for Tinderet.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I would like to thank Hon. (Eng.) Nzambia for bringing this Motion to the House and, more so, for bringing to the attention of the national Government and the Executive the plight of the aged and elderly members of the society. Hon. Temporary Speaker, our Constitution in Article 57 is quite clear about the need to care for the vulnerable in the society. A vast majority of the vulnerable in the society are the elderly who are 65 years old and above. I concur with Hon. Muhia, Member for Kipipiri. I do not understand what the Principal Secretary meant by saying that people aged 70 or 100 contest in elections so that they can organise for their cash transfers. It is bad and unacceptable to put senior citizens in such a position, knowing that they contributed to the development of this country up to where we are today. We took over from them. They are the fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers and leaders who brought Kenya to where it is. We need to take care of them. I just want to point out that we do not need to go out there and carry out those registrations every other time. The Registrar of Persons should know every Kenyan in this country. We need to digitise. We need to know the vulnerable members of society who are unable to meet their needs and who do not have enough food, homes and access to medical facilities. It is upon the State Department for Social Protection to ensure that cash transfers are done on time and in a humane manner. They should not ask the elderly to line up in a bank or in a cash transfer facility in the hot sun. We need to ensure that the money goes towards making sure that the elderly have proper medical cover. There is the NHIF aspect in the social protection scheme. However, every time the elderly presents their NHIF cards at medical facilities, they do not work. Those facilities normally say that there is no money and that the Government has not remitted the funds. We need to first ask the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to give a status report on the health aspect of the social protection programmes. This is because when we go to our constituencies, people normally ask us where their money is. They tell us that they have not received money for the last four or six months. In addition, the sick are turned away from hospitals because their NHIF cards are not active. This Motion is quite in order, and it also calls upon the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to come up with proper regulations to ensure that those monies are protected. Caregivers of the aged are known to pinch this money and misuse it. At times, the beneficiaries of that money are caregivers who are not trustworthy. Field officers in the State Department for Social Protection need to look into this. Every time Members of Parliament – who are the first-line officers – meet those people every weekend, the first thing they ask is why they are not getting that money. Ask every Member of Parliament who is here. The people back home say that they are unable to buy food, blankets and medicine. As Hon. Mwalyo has said, as you age, medical issues arise not because of anything but because of aging. This is a very important thing that we need to strengthen as a House. Let this House enact a law to ensure, one, that the money is transferred to the recipients on time. Two, those who take this money from the aged be punished and three, the elderly should not be taken through vigorous activities to prove that they are alive every other day. Being asked to register themselves every time is quite unfair. Sometimes they are moved from Post Bank to the Kenya Commercial Bank and back. This is not good.

We have other vulnerable people in the society. We have people with disabilities (PWDs), the socially disadvantaged children, orphans, and those with mental disabilities. The Government has put in place measures to ensure that these groups are taken care of. However, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

at times, the Government does not disburse funds to these groups. These groups have no strong social protection mechanisms. I ask this House to ensure that we come up with laws that are not only going to protect the elderly but also other vulnerable members in our society; those who cannot fend for themselves or take care of themselves and no one is taking care of them. This House has a responsibility because we represent both the able and the very vulnerable.

Lastly, on the issue of bursaries, this cuts across the vulnerability in the society. As much as we know that the constituencies do a lot in terms of bursary distribution – I want to thank Members for this – at the same time, we have individuals in our society who are very vulnerable in accessing medical care and government facilities. As a House, we need to come up with ways on how to have a proper, comprehensive and integrated social protection system in our country.

I thank you and support the Motion.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you very much Member for Tinderet.This chance goes to Hon. Mbeyu, the Member for Kilifi County.

Ahsante Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Ninaunga mkono Hoja hii iliyoletwa na Mbunge wa Kilome, Mhe. Nzambia. Ni muhimu uendelezi wa kusajilisha wazee ufanyike. Pia, Mhe. Nzambia ameleta Hoja hii kwa wakati mufti. Kuanzia mwaka wa 2007 hadi 2016, wazee wengi waweza kuwa walifariki na ni lazima usajilishaji endelevu uweze kuanza tena ili kusafisha orodha ile ya wazee. Wazee hawa ni kina baba, mama na ndugu zetu wakubwa ambao wamehitimu miaka 65. Maisha yamekuwa magumu. Ningependelea umri huu ushukishwe hadi miaka 60. Kufika miaka 70 hapa Kenya imekuwa changamoto sana. Wazee wanakufa njaa. Hakuna maji na mifugo inakufa. Ni maisha mengi sana ambayo yanaishia miaka 50 au 55. Ibara ya 57 ya Katiba yetu imeeleza wazi jinsi ya kuaangazia changamoto ambazo zinawakumba wazee wetu katika maisha yao ya uzeeni. Ni haki yao ya kikatiba wazee hawa waweze kuangaziwa haswa kwa chakula, fedha na hata makao. Wazee wengi wanaishi maisha ya uchochole, hawana nyumba na wanaishi tu vibandani. Ni wakati mzuri katika uangalizi wa wazee wetu na katika Bunge hili iwezekane kuwa wanapata makao bora. Serikali ilikuwa imetenga Ksh2,000 kila mwezi lakini wakati huu haitoshi kununua hata bandari ya unga. Na kama hainunui bandari ya unga, basi hamna pesa za mboga. Kwa hivyo, mwaka wa 2007 in kitambo sana tangu pesa hizi ziamuliwe. Ni vyema zifikishwe hata Ksh5,000 ili waweze kununua bandari ya unga, mboga kama maharagwe, pojo au omena . Pia, ni wajibu wetu kuangazia afya ya wazee hawa. Vyakula wanavyokula si sawa na vile tunavvyokula. Kwa hivyo, hali ya afya yao na vyakula vyao viweze kuangaziwa vizuri. Katika Kaunti yangu ya Kilifi, Ganze, Magarini na Kaloleni wako mbali sana na maafisa wanaotumika katika uhamishaji wa fedha kidijitali yaani cash transfer. Nilipokuwa Mwakilishaji wa Wodi pale Kibarani kule Kilifi mwaka wa 2013, nilikuwa naona wardadministrators wakihusishwa sana kuona wazee wamelipwa pesa hizi hadi kule vijijini. Tumesikia hapa kuwa mzee wa miaka 80 au 90 hawezi kutembea kuenda benki ambapo malipo haya hufanyika. Kaunti ya Kilifi, benki nyingi ziko Kilifi Mjini, Malindi, Mariakani, Kaloleni na Mtwapa ambapo ni Kilifi Kusini. Kwingine, benki ziko mbali. Tunapaswa kuona ni mikakati ipi itawekwa ili pesa hizi zifikie wale wazee binafsi maanake hata next of kin wanaotumwa kuwachukuliwa pesa hizi hawazifikishi. Pesa nyingi huishia mikononi mwa wale waliopendekezwa kuchukulia wazee pesa hizi. Mhe. Spika wa Muda, naunga mkono Hoja hii ili tuone ni vipi Kamati husika itaweza kuhakikisha kuwa pesa hizi zinafikishwa na wahusika kwa wazee waliolengwa ili waweze kusaidika. Ahsante Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Ahsante sana Mbunge wa Kilifi. Nafasi hii itaenda kwa Mbunge wa Igembe Kusini, Mhe. Paul Mwirigi. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Ahsante Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Nami ningependa kuchangia Hoja hii. Ninampa hongera sana Mhe, Nzambia kwa kuileta Bungeni. Wazee ndio wametulea hadi mahali tumefika leo. Ni muhimu sana sisi kama Wabunge kuangalia na kutilia uzito jambo hili la malipo ya wazee. Usajili wa wazee ulifanyika mwaka wa 2016 na kufikia sasa, haujafanyika tena. Ndio maana namshukuru sana Mhe. Nzambia kwa kuleta Hoja hii ili iweze kujadiliwa katika Bunge hili na ili pia sauti zetu ziweze kusikika Serikalini na kuhakisha kwamba wazee wanasajiliwa na pia wanapata hela kila mwezi. Kulingana na mambo yalivyo sasa, hizi hela za wazee hukaa zaidi ya miezi miwili au mitatu kabla ya hawa wazee kuzipokea. Ikumbukwe kwamba wengi wao hawana makao na wengine ni wajane. Kwa hivyo, hawana watu wa kuwashughulikia. Ni vyema sana wazee hao wapokee malipo yao baada ya mwezi mmoja. Vilevile na kulingana na hali ya maisha yalivyo wakati huu, ni vyema hizi hela ziongezwe ili hao wazee waweze kujikimu kimaisha. Mambo mengine yanahitaji hela nyingi ili mtu aweze kuishi vizuri. Ni vyema kuangazia nyongeza ya hizi hela.

Katika msururu wa usajili, kunakuwa na mambo mengi. Wazee hawa wa miaka mingi hupitia mambo mengi ili wasajiliwe. Wengine wanaosajiliwa ni marafiki wa wale machifu ambao wanafanya usajili. Ni vyema kila mtu ama kila mzee ambaye anasajiliwa, asajiliwe bila ubaguzi wakati wa usajili. Wakati mwingine, wazee wanaofaa kunufaika na hela hizi wanaachwa nje sababu sio marafiki wa wale wanafanya usajili. Wakati mwingine wanaonekana kama wametoka familia duni sana ambazo hazifai kuangaliwa. Familia hizi ndizo tunataka ziangaziwe sana. Kwa hivyo, ni lazima kuweka mikakati inayofaa kuhakikisha wanaofaa kunufaika wamesajiliwa.

Wale ambao wanatumika kuchukulia hela wazee wasiojiweza kufika katika benki zetu huwa wanapotea na pesa zile, ama wanawaibia. Ni vizuri kuwe na mikakati ambayo itatumika kuwachukulia hatua kali wanaohusika kuwaibia hao wazee. Hela tunazozungumzia ni za kusaidia hao wazee ili waweze kuendelea vyema kimaisha. Mambo haya yameangaziwa katika Katiba. Ni jukumu letu kuhakikisha hao wazee wamehudumiwa vyema na wamepata hela hizi ili maisha yao yaendelee vyema.

Jambo lililonisukuma sana kuzungumzia mambo haya ni kwamba, mara kwa mara ninapozunguka katika Eneo Bunge langu la Igembe Kusini, wazee huniuliza mbona usajili hauendelei hadi sasa. Ndio maana nahimiza Serikali kwamba kuwe na usajili wa hawa wazee mwaka baada ya mwaka kwa sababu wanaendelea kuzeeka miaka isongapo.

Kwa hayo machache, Mhe. Spika wa Muda, naomba kuunga. Asante.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Asante sana, Mbunge wa Igembe Kusini. The next opportunity goes to the Member for Kaiti, Hon. Kimilu.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to support this important Motion. This Motion seeks to address the plight of vulnerable elderly persons. They are in dire need of financial aid for the sustainability of their health and well- being. I thank Hon. Nzambia for bringing this Motion at the right time. When we go to our constituencies, we get so many elderly people camping in our offices seeking money for their well-being. Kilome borders Kaiti Constituency and we share some markets. During the last rainy season, there was no rain in Kilome Constituency. When I was going to the village last weekend, I met too many elderly people coming to the market to look for food. It was not a good show and we are here as MPs. Article 57 of the Constitution outlines measures to ensure the rights of elderly persons. It is a fact that elderly persons, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds, require financial aid for the sustainability of their health and well-being.

In 2007, the Government launched the Older Persons Cash Transfer Programme with the purpose of facilitating monthly cash transfers to disadvantaged and vulnerable elderly The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

persons from identified deserving households. In my constituency, I came up with a programme to help them get their NHIF cards through the NG-CDF. When I was sitting here, I was trying to see the reason Hon. Nzambia came up with this Motion. I thought he put the situation of the elderly people in his shoes. We are here and young. After Parliament, some of us go to the gym. I was trying to imagine when Hon. Nzambia is 90 years old. He will not be in a position to go to that gym or to run here and there to do business. He will be an old person. I was trying to imagine the situation by then. It is important we try to consider those elderly people at our age. We are going there.

When I was issuing bursaries last weekend in my constituency, I got more than 300 elderly people in my office. They told me “you have issued bursaries to students today. What of us? We need money. We have attained the age of 70 years and we have never been registered.” I request this House to resolve that the national government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, undertakes continuous and timely registration for the OPCT. This will ensure that all deserving elderly persons are registered, receive benefits from the programme, and that there is adequate monitoring of timely disbursement of funds. We can make it automatic that when one attains the age of 65 years, they go to the chief’s office, are registered, and automatically start getting this cash. I think that will help. The Government has issued cheap fertilisers to our farmers. We experience short rains in Lower Eastern. Our people in Makueni planted and they were excited to use that fertiliser. I even wrote to the Ministry of Agriculture because we did not have rains after two weeks and all the plants died. The reason was, maybe, that fertiliser could not sustain our crops. So, I request the Ministry to do research before giving fertilisers because different areas have different climate. Our people are now suffering because of very harsh conditions and are going without food. If the youth are going without food, what about the elderly people?

As Members of Parliament, it is high time we stood with our people by passing this Motion so that they can benefit from this cash transfer. It is our duty to ensure the rights of our citizens including the elderly persons are protected and promoted. So, it is high time we supported this Motion. I thank Hon. Nzambia for coming up with such an important and timely Motion and request my colleagues to join hands in support.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support it.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Well spoken. Hon. Beatrice Kemei, Member for Kericho County.

Thank you Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to stand in support of this Motion by Hon. Nzambia. The elderly people in our society are very important to us because they are our parents and grandparents. They are full of wisdom so they advise us and our youth. I stand to support this Motion on cash transfer which is very important because it cushions the elderly from poverty and hunger with the aim of improving their lives. It is very interesting that the people who get this stipend come from very humble backgrounds and maybe have never earned even a shilling in their lives. So, this stipend given by the Government is very important to them. Having said that, the elderly people are very important and it is interesting that some of them take care of their children and grandchildren. In as much as it is beautiful to take care of children and grandchildren, sometimes they are burdened. So, this initiative will assist them in improving their lives. Unfortunately, some of them live in bad houses, eat unbalanced food and wear torn clothes. If possible, with time, the Ksh2,000 they get as stipend should be increased so it can be of great help to them. I want to appreciate some of them like Esther and Leah from my county. These two women have invested the Ksh2,000 in small businesses. They are artisans who decorate calabashes and make beads to sell. This way they have increased their little income. I also know The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

an old mzee called Kiprugut from my village, he makes rungus and mats which he sells and adds to the little he gets. I want to appreciate those who have put these little monies into good use. I am a bit concerned about the caregivers because some of them use this little money meant for the elderly. They request or demand them to pay their fees. So, it is like they are being paid for being caregivers. I am calling upon our people to give these elderly people space to enjoy the little given to them by the Government. In any case, the aim or objective of this money is to give an opportunity to their caregivers to go to work or school since the elderly have been cushioned. Also, to break inter-generational poverty. That is why they are provided with some little money. So, I urge this House to strongly support our people by passing this Motion. We know there are other vulnerable groups like people living with disabilities who can be the elderly, orphans, single mothers and widows. These people need our attention and the many responsibilities they are given should be lifted from them. In essence, I support this Motion. The chiefs should register those who are not registered and those concerned should lift burdens from these elderly people. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support. I want to add that this money should not be stolen from the elderly. Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you very much. Hon. Fatuma Masito, Member for Kwale County.

Asante sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipatia nafasi hii adimu niweze kuongea na kusikika katika kumbukumbu za Bunge hili la 13 nikitetea haki za wale wazee wanyonge walio kule nyanjani. Ni juzi tu tulikuwa tukitembea katika safari ya kisiasa ya kutuwezesha kufika katika Bunge hili la kitaifa. Wazee walikuwa wakinililia na kuniambia, “Mhe. tutakupeleka Bungeni, lakini mbona tunanyanyaswa na hatupati haki yetu ya kikatiba”? Namshukuru Mhe. Nzambia, Mjumbe wa Kilome kwa kuleta Hoja hii Bungeni. Naunga Hoja hii mkono mia kwa mia ya kuwatetea wazee wetu ambao wametuzaa. Tukijiangalia hatungekuwa hapa kama si wale wazee ambao walituzaa kule nyanjani tulikotoka. Tunawapatia heshima kuu na kuwatetea. Naomba Bunge hili liweze kuwasaidia kwa kupitisha Hoja hii ili waongezewe zile pesa zao. Pia, idadi yao iongezewe kwa sababu tangu mradi huu uanzishwe mwaka wa 2016 walisimamisha uongezaji wa watu wengine. Basi Bunge hili liweze kupitisha na kuunga mkono wale wazee waongezwe katika ile orodha. Pili, zile pesa ni finyu sana. Kule kwetu tunasema ni pesa za wazee kununua tumbaku peke yake kwa sababu hawawezi kujikimu kimaisha ilhali, wamezaa watu ambao wanaheshimika, ni wazima na wao wamepoteza nguvu zao. Mimi ninatoka sehemu ya Kwale ambayo ina maeneo Bunge manne; Lungalunga, Msambweni, Matuga na Kinango. Zile sehemu zina wazee wanyonge zaidi na itabidi mzee atembee au atumie njia ya usafiri kama bodaboda ndio afike katika kituo cha kulipia hizi pesa. Wengine wanatumia hata siku tatu ndio wazipate zile pesa. Wakifika katika mabenki yale, mzee anakaa siku mbili kwenye baridi akisubiri. Ningeomba zile huduma zishukishwe kule nyanjani, ili tusimpate mzee ametoka Kinango kuja kuzichukua pesa zile pale Kwale ambapo ni County Headquarters, akiwa ametoka takriban kilomita mia mbili ama mia tatu. Hiyo ni hujuma. Tunawasaidia lakini pia tunawanyanyasa kwa njia moja au nyingine. Mzee amekaa kwa baridi siku mbili kungoja shilingi elfu mbili. Jambo lingine ni, wale ndugu zetu wanaowachukulia wale wazee zile pesa, ningependa pia wawatendee haki, kwa sababu sisi kama jamii ya Wapwani au jamii ya Kiislamu, tunaamini kuwa dhuluma ni kitu kibaya. Wewe umemleta mzee aliye mnyonge na maskini, labda haelewi anapokea pesa ngapi, halafu wewe unazichukua zile pesa kitita fulani na kutia mfukoni. Serikali lazima itafute njia nzuri na mbadala ya wale wazee kufaidika wao wenyewe directly . The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Nilikutana na wazee ambao walikuwa wamekuja sehemu ile kuchukua pesa. Unapata mzee anafanyishwa ile nenda-rudi, kwa sababu ya hizi alama za vidole. Wakati mwingi mtu akifika umri fulani, hizi alama za vidole ambazo kwa lugha ya Kingereza zinaitwa finger prints, zinapotea. Unapata mzee anaambiwa hawezi pewa pesa kwa sababu finger prints zake zimepotea. Yule mzee anataabika na kukaa kwenye jua au baridi siku mbili ama tatu, na pengine pia asipate zile pesa, arudi nyumbani halafu arudi pale tena baada ya miezi sita. Kama tunawasaidia wazee hawa, basi pia haki itendeke na tuweze kuwafanyia njia nyepesi ya kuweza kufaidika na pesa zile.

Jambo lingine ambalo ningependa kuongezea ili kuongeza chumvi au kuongeza uzito wa Hoja hii iliyoletwa na Mheshimiwa wa kutoka Kilome, Mhe. Nzambia, ni kuwa katika Bunge hili, taifa hili letu na Serikali hii tuliyonayo, tuwafikirie wale wazee wetu kuweza kupata bima ya afya. Wazee wengi ni wajane na sisi tunajifahamu katika jamii mara nyingi wazee wale huwa wameachiliwa, hawaangaliwi, hawashughulikiwi, hakuna mtu anayewajali na pia kupata matibabu ni shida.

Namshukuru Mhe. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipa nafasi hii na mwisho niseme ninaiunga mkono Hoja hii mia kwa mia. Asante sana.

(Hon. (Dr.) Rachael Nyamae): Asante sana. Nafasi ya sasa itaenda kwa Mhe. Naomi Waqo ambaye ni Mbunge wa Marsabit County.

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Nashukuru Mhe. Nzambia aliyeleta Hoja hii ambayo ni ya kutusaidia na pia kuwasaidia wazee mahali tunapotoka. Ninaiunga mkono Hoja hii kwa sababu ni ya maana na tukiipitisha inaweza kuwasaidia wale watu wanaotuombea na kutuunga mkono kutoka kule chini. Tunavyojua, sisi Waafrika ni watu ambao tumekuwa tukiwaangalia wenzetu na tunapenda kuangaliana. Lakini hivi sasa hiyo hali ya kuchunga na kusaidiana imeisha ndani ya watu. Vijana na wasichana wala watoto hawakumbuki kutunza wazazi wao vile tulikuwa tunafanya hapo awali kama Waafrika. Hii ni kumaanisha kuwa hii culture ambayo tumepoteza inaendelea kutuathiri na hiyo ndiyo inafanya wazee wetu kuumia kwa njia mbali mbali katika uzee wao.

Tukiangalia vizuri tutokapo kule kwa kaunti, kwa mfano mimi ninatoka Kaunti ya Marsabit ambayo ina mahali mbali mbali, na zile constituencies ambazo watu wetu wako, kuna urefu wa kama kilomita zaidi ya mia tatu au mia nne. Kwa hivyo, ninaunga mkono hii Hoja kwa sababu tunajua kwamba wazee wetu huwa wanatembea ama wanabebwa na wanaumia. Wengine hata hawana hali ya afya nzuri na kwa hivyo wanaumia kwa njia mbalimbali. Wanafaa wapelekewe huduma karibu ili waweze kuhudumiwa kwa njia njema.

Kwa mambo ya kuhakikisha kwamba wale ambao wamefikisha miaka sitini ama sitini na tano wamesajiliwa na wameangaliwa vizuri ni muhimu. Wakati wa campaign nakumbuka nilitembea maeneo mbali mbali na wazee wengi hawakua wamesajiliwa kama watu wanaofaa kuhudumiwa na kupata hiyo pesa. Hata katika kusajiliwa wanaohusika kama machifu na wazee wa kijiji wanaosimamia hayo mambo, wanafaa kuangalia kwa makini ni kina nani wanaofaa kupata pesa zile. Hata kama tunasema kwamba wazee wote wana haki ya kupata, kati ya hao wazee kuna wale ambao ni disabled, hawajiwezi na wanahitaji kupewa nafasi ya kwanza ili waweze kupata nafasi na wahudumiwe kwa njia ya karibu sana. Kati ya hao wazee pia kuna wale ambao wako kwa hali ya umaskini zaidi. Kwa hivyo, hata kama tunasema wazee wote ambao wamefikisha miaka sitini na sitini na tano waangaliwe, tunafaa pia kuangalia kati ya hao, ni nani aliye maskini zaidi, nani asiyejiweza kabisa na ni nani aliye na shida ambayo pia sisi hatutaweza kusema kwa sababu wengine wako na shida za afya kama blood pressure, shida ya sukari inayopanda na kuwasumbua, na wengine wana shida zinazohitaji matibabu. Kwa hivyo, hata tukipendekeza wapate usaidizi huu, mambo ya afya yao inafaa kuangaliwa na waweze kupata huduma ya karibu hasa wale ambao wanaumia kwa njia mbali mbali.

Ningependa kusema kwamba sisi ni Waafrika kama nilivyosema hapo awali, na wale ambao wako na wazazi wao tuwapatie attention ambayo inatakikana. Hata katika Bibilia, amri The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

ya tano inatuambia kwamba tunafaa kuangalia wazazi wetu kwa njia nzuri ili tuweze kupata baraka. Kwa hivyo, watu waangalie wazazi wao na wawachunge. Sisi pia kama Serikali ya Kenya Kwanza tumehakikishia watu kwamba tutakua tukishughulikia watu ambao wako katika vitengo mbali mbali katika nchi hii yetu ya Kenya, na haswa wazee ambao wamepitisha miaka sitini na tano na wanahitaji hiyo huduma kutoka kwetu ili waishi maisha inayofaa.

Mhe. Spika wa Muda, ninaunga mkono hii Hoja na naomba watu wote waiunge mkono ndio iweze kupita. Asante.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Asante Mheshimiwa. Ningependa kupatia nafasi hii Mheshimiwa wetu anayeitwa Gonzi Rai. Atafuatwa na Mhe. Waluke, Mbunge wa Sirisia.

Kwanza, nashukuru Mhe. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipatia nafasi hii. Baada ya kupewa likizo na wananchi 2017, ilipofika 2022, waliona kwamba hili Bunge linakosa wazee. Ndio maana wakaniregesha katika Bunge hili. Hii Hoja inahusiana na wazee. Kwa hivyo, nashukuru na kutambua Mhe. Nzambia kwa sababu ya kuleta hii Hoja, kwa sababu ni ya muhimu sana katika Bunge na Jamhuri nzima. Kuwakumbuka wazee ni kama kuikumbuka kale yetu.

Hoja hii tunaizungumzia kwa sababu usajili ulikomeshwa karibu miaka saba iliyopita. Hadi sasa, mambo mengi yamepita. Ushuhuda ambao nilishuhudia wakati nilipokuwa likizoni ni kwamba hawa wazee wanastahili kupewa heshima. Tuna taifa sasa kwa sababu ya hawa wazee. Lakini hali wanayoishi na kuchukuliwa ni kama ni watu waliolaaniwa. Eneo Bunge ninalotoka la Kinango ni sehemu kame. Hali ya wazee inazidi kudorora zaidi kwa sababu hali si hali. Niko hapa Bungeni lakini karibu kila siku, nakutana na maombi ambayo yanawasilishwa kwa njia ya simu kwamba kumekuja wazee lakini hawajakula kwa zaidi ya siku tatu. Umri wao ni ule umezidi miaka sitini na tano na kuendelea. Sasa ukiangalia, kweli kama taifa tunaweza kusema tunaendelea lakini kama jamii ile imewachwa nyuma, huwa ni mateso makubwa sana. Kufaulu kwetu kama jamii ni kuwakumbuka hawa wazee wetu na kujua kwamba ni watu ambao wanastahili kutunzwa. Kutoka mwisho wa usajili ambapo ni miaka saba iliyopita, pesa tunazowapatia na ule utaratibu unaofuata, wakati mwingine inakuwa kama ndoto kwa sababu unasajiliwa mpaka wakati mwingine unakumbana na mauti ndio pesa zinaingia. Wakati mwingine wale tunawaorodhesha kama next of kin, tunapowatuma kwenda kuwasaidia wazee hawa, wao pia wanatumia ufisadi na kuwalangua wazee hawa. Anapelekwa kwa benki na akifika hapo, anaambiwa atie sahihi . Akirudi, anaambiwa pesa zimekosekana lakini zimetoka.

Nakumbuka dhahiri kwamba wakati mmoja, kulikuwa na mzee kule Pwani ambaye alikuwa amefanya kazi Halmashauri ya Bandari ya Kenya zaidi ya miaka 30. Alienda kustaafu na pesa yake ilikuwa inaingia kwa Benki ya Barclays. Kila akienda benki, alienda na kijana ili aende akatolewe pesa. Jambo lililokuja kudhihirika baadaye ni kwamba kijana alikuwa akimpeleka mzazi kwa benki na akifika anamjazia form ya kutoa pesa na baadaye anamwambia pesa hazijaingia. Pesa zilipokwisha, ikabidi mzee atafute msaada wa Mjumbe ili apate kujua kwa nini pesa zake zimechelewa. Tulipokuja kuuliza swala katika Bunge hili, tukapata Ripoti kutoka kwa Halmashauri ya Bandari kwamba pesa zilikuwa zimeingia benki.

Tulipofika kwa benki, tukapata kwamba mzee alikuwa ametoa pesa zaidi ya karibu ishirini na tano, lakini hakumbuki hata siku moja kupewa shilingi. Pesa zote zilikuwa zimetoka. Kwa hivyo, watu hawa wanastahili kuwa na uangalifu mzuri sana, kwa sababu hata kile kipengee cha kuwasajili, wakati mwingine kinakumbwa na utata. Unamkuta mama ni mjane na anakuja kwako anakuambia amefikisha umri na wenzake wameandikishwa lakini yeye hajaandikishwa. Ukijaribu kutafuta suluhisho ama sababu, zinakosekana. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Tunapoenda kusajili watu kwa sababu ya kura, wakati mwingi, kuna utaratibu unaotumika ili watu wote wakate kura. Usajili wa wazee wetu unastahili kufanyika kwa utaratibu fulani kuhakikisha kuwa wanasajiliwa vilivyo. Kufikia sasa, idadi ya wale wanafaidika na pesa za uzeeni ni wachache kuliko wale hawajasajiliwa. Kilio na masikitiko yao tunayazingizia kutokana na climate change nchini. Hakuna mvua na kwa hivyo, ardhi haimei chakula kwa sababu ya laana ya watu tuliowatesa. Mhe. Spika wa Muda, aliyoyafanya Mhe. Nzambia ni dhahiri kuwa alijua kuwa wazee wetu wanateseka. Tulizungumzie hili swala na baadaye, tulipitisha ili lipate utaratibu mwafaka wa kuhakikisha kuwa hizi pesa zimepatikana na kuwe na utaratibu mwafaka wa usajili utakaowawezesha wazee wetu wapate pesa zao baada ya muda fulani ama msimu fulani. Ingekuwa bora iwapo tayari, zingekuwa zimetoka na tayari ziko kwenye benki zao. Hakuna dhambi kuweka orodha ya majina ili kuhakikisha kuwa anayeenda katika benki yuko na uhakika kuwa pesa ziko kuliko mtu afunge safari kutoka Kinango mpaka Mariakani, Kinango mpaka Kwale na atakapofika, hakuna pesa. Pesa anazotumia baada ya safari, zinazidi pesa alizolipwa. Swala hili linauma. Ninamshukuru na niko na matumaini kuwa heko na sifa zitamfikia Mjumbe husika, Mhe. Nzambia kwa sababu Hoja nyingi zimeletwa katika Jumba hili lakini hii ni muhimu sana. Ninakushukuru Naibu Spika wa Muda kwa kunipa nafasi ili ieleweke kuwa hii ni Hoja ya maana sana hasa siku ya leo. Mhe. Spika wa Muda, Mungu akubariki na tuendelee kupeleka Bunge letu mbele. Asante.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Asante. Mjumbe wa Sirisia, Mhe. John Waluke.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me time to also contribute to this important Motion. I thank Hon. Nzambia for coming up with this Motion. I urge all the Members of this House to support it. It touches on all 47 counties and the 290 constituencies which we represent. The elderly are important to us. They are our parents and grandparents. They need our help and support as their children and grandchildren. Sometimes, the Government delays to disburse the money to the elderly. As a House, we make laws and deal with the Budget. We need to increase their money from Ksh2,000 to Ksh4,000 or Ksh5,000 so that they are helped. They are human beings. They need transport to travel to medical facilities. That is the reason we need to increase money for the older persons.

From the time 800 older persons were registered seven years ago, many people have aged. We need to pass a law that allows registration of up to 4 million older persons. In every constituency and the wards that we come from there are many older persons who have not been registered and yet they have reached 70 years. We need to revise that age from 70 years to 65 years and help them when they are alive, and not talk about them when they are dead. Registration should be enhanced so that they are captured. The Government should provide them with NHIF cards so that when they are taken to hospital – because the Government will have paid for them – it will be easy for them to get proper treatment instead of them looking for Members of Parliament to give them money for treatment.

When older persons are at home, they need all kinds of support. Some of them are more than 100 years old and are supposed to have facilities to help them like wheelchairs. So, as a House, we need to pass a law that will govern these persons and take care of them. There is a lady Member who came to ask me to donate my time to her. So, because of time, I support this Motion and urge Members to pass this Motion. Thank you. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

(Hon. (Dr.) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you, Hon. Waluke. The next opportunity goes to Hon. Richard Yegon, Member for Bomet East.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity. I came in when around 15 Members were in the House but more than 20 Members have talked. I wanted to know the magic of having an opportunity to talk and contribute to this important Motion. I will not take much time because most of my colleagues have contributed and said many things that I had noted down to contribute. First, there is need to fast-track registration of elderly people as my colleagues have said. For sure, we have had a lot of challenges in my constituency with older persons. From 2016…

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): I want to give some guidance to Hon. Catherine Omanyo. I know you want to speak on this Motion but the Hon. Member for Sirisia cannot donate time to you. The only person who can donate time to you is the sponsor of the Motion who is Hon. Waluke. So, I …

Not Hon. Waluke!

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Sorry, it is Hon. Nzambia, Member for Kilome. So, it is out of order for Hon. Waluke to donate time to Hon. Catherine Omanyo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I was saying that there has not been any registration from 2016 up to now yet there are so many people who have qualified to benefit from this scheme. As much as we want this registration to continue, we also want to ensure that there is a record. Some people are also dying, so dead people need to be struck out of the register. There are people who are using identification cards of the dead to get money from this fund. They should be struck out of the register to protect government money from going to waste and give it to the right people who have qualified by attaining the age of 65 years.

We also need to have a consistent transfer of these funds. This is because in the last regime there were elderly people who went for a very long period before the money was disbursed. The new administration has started disbursing the money. We need consistency for this programme to continue. The money should also be disbursed on a monthly basis.

I am also supporting the idea of having the money increased from the current amount which is Ksh2,100 up to about Kshs5,000. They should also be registered by NHIF to help them get medical care when they fall sick.

With those few remarks, I support the Motion. Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr.) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Members I would like to give this opportunity to Hon. Siyoi, the Member of Parliament for Trans-Nzoia County.

Thank you Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me this chance to contribute to the Motion that was tabled by Hon. Nzambia.

I support the Motion because it is important and this is the time for the nation to give back to the elderly. The elderly have contributed to the economic growth of this country. Now that they are not able to work, it is important that we consider the ones at the age of 65 years and above. As it has been well stipulated by a number of Members of Parliament, we would like to discuss the modalities. In Trans Nzoia County for example, I was surprised to see elderly citizens in the street queuing to receive the money. I felt like that was an injustice to them. We should have a modality on how the money will be disbursed to the elderly. Let us not do it through the banks. Let it be done through the sub-counties or send it to their mobile telephones to enable them access their money without going through a struggle.

In addition, the mode of registration of the elderly should change. I believe that at the age of 65 years, their personal data should be available. When you attain 65 years you should The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

be registered in the system automatically to start receiving the money through an electronic money transfer. Bearing in mind that it is almost lunch time, I support the Motion. I will end by saying that we need to put aside money for the electronic transfer to the elderly.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): I will give a chance to one more person. Hon. Agnes Pereiyo, the Member for Narok North.

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipatia nafasi hii ili nichangie hii Hoja ya wazee wakongwe ambao wanahitaji kutunzwa na kuchungwa.

Kabla sijaendelea, ningependa kumshukuru Mjumbe ambaye alileta hii Hoja kwa sababu ni ya maana. Hata kama hatuko hapo, tunaelekea hapo. Nafikiri ni jukumu la Serikali kuhakikisha hawa wakongwe wamechungwa na wamepata dawa na chakula.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Order, Hon. Pareyio. You will have a balance of nine minutes to debate this Motion.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Members, the time being 1.01 p.m., this House stands adjourned until this afternoon at 2.30 p.m.

The House rose at 1.01 p.m.

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Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.