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{
    "id": 1376045,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1376045/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 179,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Teso South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Emaase",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also wish to add my voice to this debate on this Bill by Hon. Mejjadonk. The issue of unemployment in Kenya is very serious. According to the 2022 statistics, the rate of unemployment is at 5.5 per cent. According to the Commission for Higher Education, statistics have it that every year, an average of 50,000 graduands from universities are released into the job market. That does not include those that graduate from the middle level colleges. All those graduates expect to transit into job opportunities or positions. Where will we get the jobs if we continue to retain retired officers? Where will we get the jobs if officers serve in an acting capacity forever without a stipulated or defined period of time? Where will we get the jobs if even those who are lost through natural attrition are not replaced? We have been receiving officials from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who tell us that they have an aging population such that almost everyone in an entire office is retiring and yet, there are no replacements. We even have an issue with replacing those who have left office as a result of retirement, accidents, death or any other manner. Why are there delays? I support the position by one Member that advertisements for recruitments to replace those who are leaving should be done 12 months prior to the retirement date because there is an establishment structure and an allocation to cater for that. Why should there be delays? We must plan for future generations and how graduates will be absorbed into the job market as they finish college or university. At this juncture, I want to thank and appreciate the President for his efforts, including visiting other nations to seek employment opportunities for our youths. I urge all nurses to apply for the 2,000 nursing positions. I also thank the President for prioritising programmes that will generate additional job opportunities for youths in the country, including the Affordable Housing Programme and the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) that we are pushing as a country. Above all, we must also ask whether our colleges are preparing young graduates to match the existing and available opportunities in the job market. I support this Bill by Hon. Mejjadonk. There must be compulsory retirement after one attains 60 years of age so that we create opportunities for others. There must be penalties for authorities that do not comply with the provisions of this legislation. There should also be an expiry date for serving in an acting capacity. I, once again, congratulate Hon. Mejjadonk. 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"
}