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{
    "id": 1127709,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1127709/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 603,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Gatanga, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Joseph Nduati",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13338,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Nduati Ngugi",
        "slug": "joseph-nduati-ngugi-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to make my contribution. At the outset, I support the Bill. It is a great idea that will enable our people to get timely payment of their pension. This is something that has caused many Kenyans to suffer. Pension has been a challenge even to us Members of Parliament. Most of the times, teachers in rural areas are chasing us to Nairobi to come and find out what is happening to their pension, and it has been a challenge. We are talking about timely payment but, as we do so, we also need to come up with a clear way of how it should be done. When it comes to tax, I am seeing what the Government is doing especially to VAT where you as the purchaser and the supplier will be linked to KRA immediately you do your purchase or supply. So, even as a pensioner, you should be able to know the amount of money you contribute monthly. That information should reach you monthly. As you get your salary or pension, you should be able to know because what has been happening is that when the pensioner goes to claim his pension, one of the challenges is the files. Those files keep moving from one office to the other with no clear record. I propose that, as we talk about timely payment, we need to automate the data we have. Currently, that data is not well kept and that is what has caused a lot of suffering to our people. Communication is key especially with the Pensions Department. They need to come up with a very clear way of how they will be communicating with our people. There is no need of a Kenyan travelling all the way from Kisumu or from Muranga just to come and find out where the file is. The other thing is that, that money loses value over time. Instead of only dealing with a lump sum amount that will fade at the end of their employment, we need to find ways of how we can support our people. When you give them that money, most Kenyans buy matatus . After one year, they go back to suffering. So, even as people are about to retire from Government or county governments service, it is good to educate them on what they can do with the money. One of the key things I would propose and which have not been happening is that pension funds have a lot of money. If we could develop houses instead of giving somebody cash when he retires, you match that house to the amount of money; maybe it would be more beneficial. With those few remarks, it is a good Bill but the only thing lacking is to define time limits and how it will be done. 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."
}