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{
    "id": 418028,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/418028/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 281,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "because those who are receiving pension are getting very little amounts that they have to queue. I think the pension policy has to be looked at. The pension should be adjusted from time to time. I think even the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) should look into that area. As they are looking at the salaries for others, pensions should also be looked into. As the value of money goes down, pensioners should be compensated. There is also a worrying trend. While we are talking about the current pensioners not getting enough pension, our youth today, even those working in blue chip companies like Safaricom, KCB and all banks--- There used to be a policy where if one worked for a number of months, they were required to be permanent and pensionable. Something has come up where our youth, even those who are professionally qualified with masters are employed on one year contracts and are constantly working under threats. The moment they start earning good salaries and good pensions, their contracts are discontinued. We are breeding a generation that will not have pension at the end of the day. The Ministry of Labour should ensure that the companies that pretend to carry out social responsibilities by sponsoring a few things here and there like cross-country races here and there take care of their staff when they grow old. The problems of the old are many. There is the issue of food and shelter. This afternoon, we were discussing about landlessness and so forth. Some of the elderly people have been queuing waiting for land. There should be a policy where land becomes available for selling to people. The list should be prepared in a manner that the elderly are given preference so that they have a shelter or, at least, a place to rest when the time comes. We all know when one grows old that their immune system is invaded and old age sets in. However, we do not seem to give preference to them. There is no policy in our hospitals that allows a senior citizen, when he reports at a health centre to jump the queue. They queue with the young and can even die before they see the doctors. If you go to some hospitals, you will find young men sharing beds with the old men. This is not respectful. It is not in our tradition. It is not in the tradition of anywhere even in the countries that are said to be modern. The elderly also consist of those who have saved lives like the priests. When priests retire, we do not know where they go. Perhaps this is an area that Prof. Lesan should also touch. We should ensure that there are homes for our retired priests or probably they should be taken care of in their settings when they retire. In the European countries, when missionaries retire, they are taken care of for the rest of their lives. However, our Kenyan priests are not taken care of. That is an area that the Government should support. Whatever they have done is beneficial to the country and the community in general. With those few remarks, I support."
}