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{
    "id": 502372,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/502372/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 204,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "November 13, 2014 SENATE DEBATES 35 Sen. Adan",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I stand to second this Motion. Unfortunately, it looks like the House is almost empty. I do not know whether the Senators have taken off to Mombasa. Nevertheless, I take this opportunity to second the Motion. Madam Temporary Speaker, this issue is long overdue in the sense that many Kenyans are suffering in the process of getting their dues, especially at the end of their retirement, when they lose their loved ones and there are compensations and when they are irregularly removed from service. As a Committee, we invited several departments that are relevant to this particular subject but, unfortunately, it looked like some of the departments were trying to protect their turf, which is going to be unfair to Kenyans. One of them is the Pensions Department which is notorious when it comes to actually paying the benefits of the deceased and retired civil servants. This clearly shows that they are not ready to devolve. The second one is the Department of Public Trustee. They also did not actually come to our Committee even after invitation. I believe that Kenyans are facing a lot of challenges in terms of following up their dues in these departments. Maybe after we pass this Bill, those departments must be forced to give us their report and also try to amend the relevant section that will benefit Kenyans. One of the things that the Committee actually looked at is the issue of the independence of the body. It is important for that particular body to be independent, for it to be able to handle issues of compensation and also benefits to the claimants. Therefore, it is really important that, that independence is given to that particular body. Again, as the Chair has said, we wanted to create a database where Kenyans will go to that office that will be established to check when their claims are ready and what is required of them. Today, after retiring from the civil service, you are slapped with a letter of retirement the last day when you are leaving, if at all they do. So, it is unfortunate in this day and age that we do not prepare civil servants for a proper retirement. I believe that it is important maybe at some stage for the Government to prepare civil servants for retirement a year before their retirement age, so that they can also ease their way out. Madam Temporary Speaker, this particular report should be able to amend the various sections that affect compensation and retirement. Again, we looked at the composition of the board members and thought that all the departments that are affected should be represented at that level. We also looked at the composition of the members, especially gender balance. It is really important for us to effectively establish this office, so that Kenyans can reduce their travel between Nairobi and their homes. Kenyans are actually suffering at the expense of these offices, because most of them even after retiring, do not afford accommodation and transport to Nairobi and back to their homes. Clearly, these are people who have not prepared themselves for retirement or lost their loved ones and are actually following up their benefits. Madam Temporary Speaker, once this Motion is passed, it will sort out so many problems, like the bureaucracies that are involved in Government departments. It will also actually reduce unnecessary expenses that Kenyans have actually been incurring. I think it is important in this day and age that we sort out our issues at the county level, especially since devolution is in place. This is because there is no need for one to come The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}