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{
    "id": 934737,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/934737/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 183,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13156,
        "legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo Jnr",
        "slug": "mutula-kilonzo-jnr"
    },
    "content": "According to the Act, in order for HELB to resort to either civil recovery or any other method, it is contemplated that they would check, first, after the period of one year that is provided under the law, whether that person has been employed and the circumstances under which that person has not paid. We should be seeing waivers of those payments for those people who they have determined that an attempt to get money from would be futile or cost much more than the money they have borrowed. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there is a more punitive measure where these loanees are paying a fine of Kshs5,000 on what is due. I have read the Act twice this week and there is no provision anywhere where HELB can publish the names or photographs of defaulters. It is a way of embarrassing and ridiculing persons who, for no fault of their own, have been rendered poor and unemployed due to mismanagement of this country by the Government; because they should have been employed. That is the reason you went to court to challenge the employment or nomination of a person, who in your view and correctly so, should not have been the head of the National Employment Authority. If that person was a loanee of HELB, then we would be saying that, that person should be given that opportunity, so that they can pay their loan. May you continue doing what you are doing. This matter should have gone to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights because it is a legal issue. It is not even a labour issue; it is your issue. We should summon these people - even before it goes there - and remind them that we gave them an Act of Parliament, which they should adhere to. If Sen. Sakaja who is employed got a loan and has not paid, they should pursue his employer and not Sen. Sakaja. If he has not been employed, then they should find out why he has not been employed. I gave a reasoned example. As chairman of a secondary school, we were replacing teachers. The teachers who graduated between 2010 and 2013 were earning 30 marks. The people who graduated in 2018 were earning 10 marks. It simply means that at the start of the interview, those who recently graduated were already disadvantaged. There was this young man who graduated in 2018 with straight A in Chemistry and Biology, but we could not hire him, yet this person has a loan. Even the employment opportunities, through Teachers Service Commission (TSC) are discriminating people, who by now in the one year window that is provided under the Act, should start paying. Should we not now say that if the Government of Kenya cannot find employment for these young people within five years, you waive the loans?"
}