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{
    "id": 1381416,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1381416/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 210,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "Therefore, as an institution, we continue to stand indicted because of how the various county pension funds are run, and the fact that we have not passed a law that guides counties on how their pension schemes are managed, how better to run them and whether it is proper for them to be as many as we already know, or collapse them into one county pension scheme for our county government workers just like we have one for the national Government employees. Nonetheless, I want to appreciate this first attempt to collect what is due to them. There are many defunct municipals and county councils that, up to date, have never settled their pending bills with the various pension schemes. Unfortunately, it has taken nearly 12 years to stamp our foot with authority and demand that these monies be paid. In the absence of that, we have some elderly people who gave their best of life and energy to provide service to the country but are now wallowing in extreme poverty and are unable to access their pensions. I hope the recommendations of this Report will be forwarded and implemented. Over and above this, I would like to challenge the Committee chaired by Sen. Osotsi, to bring a Bill to Parliament, specifically on how pension funds can have a right to first charge just like the KRA has agency notice. The same applies to NSSF and NHIF where many employers, because of the strict nature of the laws in place and the compliance demands on all employers, the default rate is low. So long as people know you can choose to pay, delay, or deduct the pension and use it to do other things with minimal repercussions, we will continue having the same challenges. For most of the bills, you cannot accurately determine how much is owed to specific county pension funds by various county governments. While this is a good start, a lot needs to be done. It is my sincere hope that, as a House, we will rise to the occasion and guide our county staffers into pension schemes they can rely on in retirement. It will be impossible for counties to attract good talent if they know they work for organisations which upon retirement, they cannot draw pensions."
}