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{
    "id": 803049,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/803049/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 221,
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    "content": "that we create two entities, which is what is happening in the National Assembly. Of course, we are not supposed to debate a Bill that is not yet in our place, but the National Assembly has two Bills. One is saying that we have one entity – similar to the Bill in this House –but the other says that we need to create two entities –a fund that is managing the country assembly resources plus the county assembly staff; and the pensions scheme that manages the county executive, which includes the governor and the staff within the county executive department. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, these are not easy issues. I have had conversation with a number of Senators here and I agree with Sen. M. Kajwang, when he said that there are contentious issues to be dealt with. I am sure that this is the position held by many Senators. You will find that if you converse, even in a Kamukunji, with all Senators here, we have issues that are related to the management of pension. I suggest – and we will discuss in the Senate Business Committee – that we might need to have a Kamukunji on the way forward. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there needs to be consultation between the leadership of this House, led by myself and the National Assembly. I am attempting to do so because I have already talked to the Majority Leader at the National Assembly to see how to harmonize these issues. There is no point in passing a Bill here and then sending it to the National Assembly only for it to be shelved; or for the National Assembly to pass the two Bills they have, send them here and we shelve them. Since both Houses have to deal with these two Bills, I am pursuing a harmonious way of doing this by ensuring that we discuss with the Majority Leader at the National Assembly to see how the two Bills will move between the two Houses. This is something that we must move carefully because it almost divided this House in the last Parliament. It became impossible to pass any Bill because the House was divided in the middle. If you do not have 24 Senators pushing for the Bill then it becomes difficult to pass it. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, pensions management is important. As a country, it is important that we have a system that is working well and manages the retirement benefits of all people who are in the county. I know many Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) who were defeated in the last election who are now struggling. Even the councilors who were defeated in elections are struggling. They even brought a Petition to this House to see how their welfare will be protected. As you continue aging, there must be a system that appreciates and rewards your effort and service to the public when you had the strength to serve. That is something that I believe that this House will carefully go through. I am even told that there were some people who were protesting outside Parliament today. They had a Petition on how they want this Bill to be dealt with. All these voices must be listened to before we come to the amendment stage. Before we get to Committee Stage, I believe the Senate Business Committee will adopt my proposal that we have a Kamukunji and agree on one way forward, as a Senate, so that we do not come and embarrass ourselves when we are voting for the amendments that are going to end soon. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, since I have said all those things, I do not want to delve into the contents of this Bill, suffice to say that this is a very important Bill. I 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."
}