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{
    "id": 1219400,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1219400/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 22,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this chance. I realize that my comments almost mirror word for word with what my good neighbour, Senator for Homa Bay, Sen. M. Kajwang’, has spoken about because I wanted to make my first speech today in the House to be a celebration of the girl-child and women in general and to draw your attention to the need that us as House, in future when we have the opportunity like we have today of being International Women’s Day, to spare some time to speak on the plight and challenges that our women continue to face in various spheres of life. I will follow the mood that has been set by Sen. M. Kajwang’ and secondly agree with him on the Petition specifically. He speaks about it first as a Senator and I do so too. Secondly, as a son of a teacher. I am a son of a teacher too. So, I understand completely what the petitioners are asking of us, as Senate. The fact that they brought this Petition before this House yet they know they could have exercised their right to take it to the other House and not here, is testament enough that Kenyans continue to believe that this is the Upper House, is a House of reason and that we can resolve their matters. We may not have the powers to budget and to decide and input this into the budget, but we can use our influence and speak to the relevant bodies. On many occasions, we have spoken of the plight of our retired teachers and the need for proper consideration one, in terms of their pension and being paid what is due to them in total. If you happen to interact with any Kenyan; a retired civil servant who visits that building down Harambee Avenue known as Bima House, they will tell you the tribulations and the frustrations that former civil servants continue to face when they are trying to chase their pension and clear this or the other; yet they gave the best of their sweat and energy to us as a nation during the time that they had the energy to do so. For it to get to this point that they have to plead and we, as a House, have sit, deliberate and make a determination on what to do with them is unfortunate. I hope that when the Committee sits down, they will not just deliberate on the plight of teachers and retired councillors as has been mentioned by Sen. M. Kajwang’ but the Public Service in general and rethink our handling of pension. It is not as secret any more that the biggest funds that have been put together globally for development including the loans that we are taking are from pension funds; money from people that have saved during their time as they worked. Since they reaped the benefits, their countries do not have to struggle paying or raising money from the Exchequer to pay pensioners. I know that there was an attempt in the National Assembly last term. I hope that this term, somebody comes up with it and we follow through to re-evaluate the Public"
}