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{
    "id": 864754,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/864754/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 460,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": "Nairobi at the National Treasury or wherever, becoming the chair and determines how money is handled, the investments and so on. At the Committee stage, I would want the Government side to ensure that this protection is given to the contributors, who are employees of the county governments. As I draw to a conclusion, I want this Senate to move on a path that veers away from what we have seen in the past. Today, the majority of the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) retirees--- One of my uncles worked for the KRC and died without ever getting his pension after retiring. Many of the employees of Kenya Power do not get their pension. Telekom has mutated through several changes, from the post office that it was with the massive employment portfolio to now in the hands of strangers. Nobody talks about the people who worked with the post office and telecommunications in the past. Many of them are languishing in poverty. Madam Temporary Speaker, the Kenya Railways Corporation eventually transferred some of its assets to the Railways Pension Fund (RPF), but they were sold by the people who were managing those funds and appropriated the money. Some of the former employees of the KRC are still stuck in those small houses in Muthurwa, Land Mawe and other places, with nowhere to go. This is because they cannot get their pension. We need very strict penalties, and this is not for those who failed to remit - those who fail to remit the penalty should be made to pay a little more - but those who misappropriate the funds of the contributors--- Sen. Orengo talked about Robert Maxwell and how he stole the money of his pensioners and many other places. We have examples of how people have walked away with pensioners‟ money. Today, the NSSF cannot account for workers‟ money. Every single representative and I am sure, including yourself, Madam Temporary Speaker and even if you are not a constituent-based representative; you meet people who are crying, looking for their pension. Their father worked, contributed and died. Their mother who was the beneficiary died. The eldest children who were in order of reception also died. Their money is stuck. Their parents had bought shares in the National Bank of Kenya (NBK), they had land in Mavoko and Kajiado counties, land opposite the post office and son on. When you talk to them, they tell you they build a land bank. What is a land bank to a retiree who needs his Kshs60,000 to lead a different life? Those are the big questions that we must deal with. Madam Temporary Speaker, more importantly, this Bill in consolidating the LAPTRUST and the LAPFUND is very important because we do not want a state of confusion in the industry. This idea of giving pensioners‟ funds to people to manage in the name of private companies should not be encouraged. Madam Temporary Speaker, if you go to Canada, you will see huge buildings in Toronto. You are told these are buildings owned by railway pensioners. If you to go Tanzania, our next door neighbour, where theft of public resources is controlled and not tolerated, today, their Government and I speak with authority as former Foreign Affairs Minister, uses the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to purchase houses and chanceries for their embassies abroad. When they remit money for payment of rents, the rents are paid back to the NSSF of Tanzania. This is something which is very important. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}