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{
    "id": 1381329,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1381329/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 123,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mwaruma",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13223,
        "legal_name": "Johnes Mwashushe Mwaruma",
        "slug": "johnes-mwashushe-mwaruma"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to contribute to this very important Motion on non-remittance of pension deductions to the pension schemes by county government entities. It should not be lost that in this House, I had requested for a Statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on non- remittance of these statutory deductions. I would like to thank the Committee headed by Sen. Osotsi who are doing a good job. The non-remittance of these statutory deductions have far reaching implications. Apart from remittance of deductions to pension schemes, the statutory deductions are not remitted to all the other statutory bodies such as the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and so on. This has led to a lot of suffering. For example, when county governments deduct money supposed to be for NHIF and do not remit the money to NHIF, then the workers do not get medication when they are sick. Non-remittance to pension schemes has led to people who go home after serving diligently in governments to suffer. We have very many retired people in the villages who cannot access their pension funds be it through LAPFUND or LAPTRUST. I urge the Senate to follow up the recommendations of this committee so that action is taken against the culpable counties. We want to see retired workers who are suffering and not able to access their money benefit. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we need to work as a Senate so that these governors, heads of organizations and heads of Government entities who are culprits of non-remittance of the pension funds can be called to this Senate and face the Committee of the Whole and explain why the monies deducted for the pension funds are not remitted. Sometimes, some of the monies are not remitted because of under-collection of revenue. The non-remittance of funds is a result of pending bills. Government entities should digitize their systems so that agencies of county governments can meet their targets. If counties do not meet their targets, they cannot meet their budgets. As a result, these deductions become pending bills. This is an important Report of the Senate. We should follow up on the recommendations so that retirees can access their retirement benefits. I thank this Senate for splitting the formerly County Public Accounts and Investments Committee into two committees. I recommend that we divide these two The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}