{"id":578726,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/578726/?format=json","text_counter":161,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Kangata","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":1826,"legal_name":"Irungu Kang'ata","slug":"irungu-kangata"},"content":"Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I beg to move:- THAT, clause 5 of the Bill is amended by:- (a) inserting the words “supported by an affidavit” immediately after the words “in writing” in the proposed new subsection (1A)”. (b) inserting the following new subsection immediately after subsection (1A) – “(1B) The affidavit referred to in subsection (1A) shall be valid for one year and can be renewed annually.” This was a compromise after HELB approached me. The way I had originally crafted this proposal was that--- The idea was that if you get a loan from HELB and you do not get employment, you will do a letter and there will be no interest until the day you get employed. I wanted to save young people who are getting into the job market. These days failing to pay HELB is very punitive; they are taking your name to the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB), so you cannot even go to the private sector and start a business because you are already blacklisted. I thought they needed to be told not to charge interest until a person gets employed. But, I was told by the Members of the Committee on Education, Research and Technology that the clause can be misused; people will always say they do not have jobs. To mitigate against that I brought in the aspect of an affidavit. You all know the law of affidavit; if you lie in an affidavit, you can be charged with perjury. Two, I made it annual; so it is not just a letter or affidavit forever; every year you renew it; if you fail to renew it, then interest will start accruing again. Remember, we have several elements in loans; the interest and the normal charges. That those who have not been affected, HELB still have that mechanism which I think is fair. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman."}