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{
    "id": 1011265,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1011265/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 271,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kwanza, Ford-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ferdinand Wanyonyi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2065,
        "legal_name": "Ferdinard Kevin Wanyonyi",
        "slug": "ferdinard-kevin-wanyonyi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. As I support this Bill, let us have the retirement age as a regulation rather than having it in law. It is in unique circumstances that you will find an opportunity for the youth. I recently read a magazine – I do not know if I am wrong – that said that today, over 17 million Kenyans are jobless. I am aware that those who are jobless have got certificates, diplomas, degrees, master's degrees and doctoral degrees (PhDs) because the opportunities are not there. Therefore, in as much as we want to have this retirement age, instead of having it in law, I would rather we have it in regulations. As a law, it will be mandatory. If, for example, an important organisation finds itself in a circumstance where its succession plan is not mature enough, it will struggle to take up tasks. So, as much as we want workers to be 60 years and below, let us have it as a regulation rather a law. If you have it in law, it must be done. I am also alive to the fact that it is possible at the time of one’s retirement there is no one in the organisation who is below 60 years who is able to take over the mantle. So, in as much as I agree with this Bill, in the regulations, we should have a succession plan in place. That is important. We have had cases of people holding key positions and they are not ready to let them go. When employees approach 60 years old, there should be a succession plan. There must be regular exposure and training of employees below them so that the succession is not muddled up. I have been a CEO in three parastatals in this country. Before I left for politics, I made sure that there were regular trainings and exposure of the people that were working under me. I am proud that when I left, there were more than four people who were capable of taking up my position without favouritism. The moment we have such a provision because it is the law, and we say that anyone who is 60 years old should retire, we run the risk of running this country in a very bad way. I want to agree that this will give us an opportunity. But how many companies have this kind of practice? Very few of them, and yet we are talking about 17 million Kenyans out there looking for jobs. As much as we hurry to pass this Bill, it is just one position. Maybe, among other companies, there are not very many old people. I support this Bill, but at the Committee of the whole House, we will be able to amend it so that we are talking about regulations, and not to put the provisions in law. 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."
}