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{
    "id": 1487940,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1487940/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 37,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Machakos Town, MCCP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Caleb Mule",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " This is Public Petition No.17 of 2024 regarding the failure of the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) to protect public transport operators on insurance claims. I, the undersigned, on behalf of the Machakos Matatu Owners Association (MAMOA), draw the attention of the House to the following: THAT, MAMOA represents over 4,000 public service vehicles operating in the Lower Eastern region of Kenya. The Association and its members have consistently complied with all relevant laws governing the public transport industry; THAT, IRA is mandated by the Insurance Act to among others, formulate and enforce standards for the conduct of insurance and reinsurance business in the country; THAT, the grievances by the operators stem from the recurring and persistent financial losses that they suffer and that are caused by insurance companies that fail to uphold their legal and contractual obligations; THAT, although all their vehicles fully comply with the required terms and conditions for partnerships with insurance companies, they have been unjustly subjected to severe economic hardships thus, leading to the loss of property and livelihoods; THAT, the following insurance companies that are regulated by IRA have consistently refused to honour claims from the operators in the event of accidents: INVESCO, Africa Merchant Assurance Company Limited (AMACO) and Direct-line Assurance Company Limited; THAT, despite payment of monthly premiums to those insurance companies, securing compensation for accident victims has proven extremely difficult due to the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the aforementioned insurers; THAT, in many cases of accidents involving their fleets, those operators face double expenses because, despite paying premiums, they are forced to compensate accident victims themselves, contrary to the legal framework; THAT, these issues have plagued them for decades and have been perpetuated by the regulator's failure to exercise its legal mandate to regulate the insurance companies that have been mentioned; THAT, in addition to failing to honour claims, those insurance companies have not provided legal representation in pending court cases when needed, leading to the defeat of many accident cases in court due to the absence of legal representation; THAT, MAMOA has suffered irreparable harm due to the failure of those insurance companies to honour claims, resulting in more than 10 of the members now facing court orders to show cause why they should not be committed to civil jail for failing to compensate accident victims; and, THAT, the issues in respect of which this Petition is raised are not pending before any court of law or any constitutional or legal body. Now, therefore, your humble Petitioners pray that the National Assembly, through the Public Petitions Committee: 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."
}