Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1376033,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1376033/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 167,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nakuru Town East, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. David Gikaria",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to air my sentiments on this very important amendment which has been brought by our brother, Mejjadonk. Much as we talk about the retirement age of 60 years, it is also important for us to be cognizant that the Public Service only employs a very small percentage of the unemployed labour in this country. As we try to solve this problem of public service, we also need to look at the private sector, which takes the lion's share of employment. As Parliament, we need to think beyond the Public Service and legislate on how to handle employees who are working in the private sector. I am saying this because looking at what has been proposed, for a worker to be able to attain the age of 60 years, assuming he was employed at the age of 20 years, it is a record 40 years. We hear other employees talking about how they have worked in an institution for the last 35 years or something. I think it is commendable but, at that age, a person ought to have organised themselves. People who do not want to retire, or those who ask for extension, do so because they have not prepared themselves for retirement. It is also important for us, as a Committee that, as we talk about the time someone should leave employment, whether legally or by some legislation, we should prepare employees to retire. At the age of 60 years, someone is a little bit too old. It is up to us to think. I do not know what other countries and jurisdictions do, but people should retire at around 55 years, as it is when you want to get your NSSF retirement dues so that, at least, we can vacate more positions for the young people. Of course, vacating at the age of 60 years will leave a few vacancies for the young generation that is seeking employment. I will be proposing a further amendment to reduce it to 55 years to see whether we can create more employment for the young generation. Secondly, it is on the proposal by Mejjadonk on 12 months in acting capacity. The committee should have stuck with the six months. An institution must always prepare itself for transition. We should not be talking about 12 months for an institution to prepare for recruitment. I mean, what stops the institution from starting recruitment for replacement 12 months before someone retires? Again, it is important for us to think critically about the 12 months and reduce it to six months so that somebody is assured of staying in the position he is acting on, or not. Hon. Temporary Speaker, there is the issue of preparation, and this goes to most of us, particularly the male employees. When I retire at the age of 60 and I am given a small package, that is when I will start looking for a young girl who will rest with me after the 60 years. This is where the problem starts. When the young girl comes into my life, I will think that she is so much interested in me and yet, she is interested in what I have until it is finished. I think that is where we say we need to have a programme…"
}