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{
    "id": 1525776,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1525776/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 163,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mbadi",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury and Economic Planning",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "support the proposed one-off honoraria payment of Ksh200,000 to former councillors who served for less than 20 years. The opinion also reference Circular No.1394 issued by the then Ministry of Local Government, which limited pension or gratuity payments to councillors who had served continuously for 20 years or more as of 13th December, 1993. Furthermore, the legal advisory highlighted the absence of a structured formula to determine benefits given that councillors were not salaried, but received allowances that varied across different regions. Consequently, implementing the proposed payment of Ksh2,383,800,000 to about 11,919 former councillors lacks the necessary legal and policy foundation. (b) On the second question; given the legal constraints I have just mentioned the National Treasury has considered an alternative approach through the Inua Jamii programme which is designed as a social protection initiative for elderly citizens. Former councillors who meet the eligibility criteria form part of the persons for inclusion in the programme. The State Department for Social Protection in collaboration with the relevant Government agencies, including the National Treasury, have been verifying eligible registrants into the programme. We shall collaborate with the State Department for social protection to identify the number of former councillors already enrolled and facilitating the registration for those who have not yet been enrolled. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in addition, the National Retirement Benefits Authority that was approved by the Cabinet in October, 2023, also aims to provide a harmonized framework for administering retirement benefits across all sectors. This policy will guide future considerations on the retirement welfare of various categories of public service workers, including former councillors, by ensuring a structured and legally sound approach to retirement benefits. To further strengthen the legal framework, the Government established a multi- agency committee on 17th, September, 2024, to review and align public service pension schemes with Constitution of Kenya, 2010. This committee is expected to provide recommendations on how best to address pension coverage for different categories of public service workers in a sustainable and legally compliant manner. On timelines for full gratuity payment and measures for identifying beneficiaries of deceased councillors, in light of the legal challenges, the National Treasury will engage the office of the Auditor General to conduct a forensic audit of the 328 former councillors who were initially identified as eligible for benefits. It will also verify those who are still alive and rightful beneficiaries for those who are deceased. The findings of the audit will guide the next course of action in ensuring that only eligible former councillors or their rightful beneficiaries are considered under existing Government social protection mechanisms. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Government remains committed to addressing the welfare of former councillors within the confines of the law and available resources. While the initial recommendations for the Senate and the Task force lacked legal backing, the alternative approach through Inua Jamii coupled with the broader national retirement 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."
}