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{
    "id": 1499786,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499786/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 243,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, when the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations return their verdict on this particular Bill – earlier on, I asked Sen. Abbas, who is the Chairperson of this Committee, and I have had the opportunity to listen to County Assembly's Forum, who shared their views and input on this particular Bill. It will be important to note what their contributions would have been and how they intend the Bill to be improved. However, this is the basis upon which we are beginning this conversation on the need to ensure that MCAs just like we who serve in the national legislature, have some form of pension. Let it be known because I know how the Kenyan media operates. I would not be shocked if tomorrow morning, I woke up to a screaming headline that says, \"The Senate Majority Leader moves a Bill to give pension to MCAs.\" Then people will begin the usual conversation that is misinformed most of the time in our public spaces. This is not about raiding the public coffers. It is about setting up a pension scheme that perhaps, and just like ours, will be contributory. We are deducting money during our time of service here in this House. Eventually, when you retire and you reach the proper age, you will earn a pension depending on how much you have contributed over the years. This is why the Members that have served longer enjoy more resources because it is actually a contributory scheme and not a raid on the public coffers as many would imagine. The establishment of this scheme is paramount as it will provide financial security for the MCAs upon retirement and ensure that they transition out of service with dignity and stability. I have explained how we undermine devolution by having people serve in offices where they know that my only usefulness to this society is when I am in office. Sometimes, even in their decision-making because they have no guaranteed security in the future, people tend to make decisions that are short-sighted because they have no absolute plan for the future. If you are certain that there is already a scheme set out for you where in future, once you retire or once you exit from that particular office; there is a decent salary that can keep you going. How many times do you meet former MCAs who struggle even with basic things as basic as school fees and even food to eat? My phone is full of messages from people that I know from across the country who previously served as either councillors or MCAs. They gave service to this country. However, we have not organised ourselves in a way that you equally enjoy a pension once your days here are done or in public service. Without a pension scheme, Members and staff of our county assemblies face challenges in meeting their needs, leading to financial vulnerability. Therefore, this Bill establishes the county assembly pension scheme, which will cushion MCAs from financial strain post-retirement. For this reason, the importance of this Bill can never be gainsaid. There are various parts of the Bill, from part one to part five. Part One of the Bill, which comprises clauses one to five, contains the preliminary matters, which are the title, interpretation of 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 and AudioServices, Senate."
}