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{
"id": 938357,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/938357/?format=api",
"text_counter": 255,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Siaya CWR, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Christine Ombaka",
"speaker": {
"id": 1007,
"legal_name": "Christine Oduor Ombaka",
"slug": "christine-oduor-ombaka"
},
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. This Bill is very humane and friendly to humankind because it touches on the lives of those who have served this nation very well. It is about leaders who have been in this House and who have performed very well during their times. They have left this House with a lot of distinction and credibility. They are leaders we respect, and who will be remembered in the history of this country. It has been observed across this country, including Nyanza and Siaya, where I come from; that the lives of those who served this House in the past have been very miserable. They lead very poor lives. They live below the poverty line. It is a big shame for leaders to live such a life, especially leaders who have been national leaders – those who were considered to be role models, who will go into the annals of this country’s history. I support it because pension generally is meant for the old and those who have served for a number of years. If pension is not there at all, or if it is there, but it is too little to have any meaning in the lives of those leaders, then it is our responsibility, as a House, to come up with such a Bill. That is why I acknowledge and appreciate my party leader, Hon. Mbadi, for having come up with a Bill of this nature. It is very responsible. It is a humane Bill. However, beyond the leaders who have served this country, I keep thinking of those who are being employed on temporary or part time basis. Recently, it was reported in newspapers that in future, nobody will be employed on permanent and pensionable basis. This will include teachers, professors and lecturers. As I stand here to speak, I know of my colleagues who teach at the university, who have been employed on part-time basis for so many years. What will happen to them when they grow old and retire? Will they have any pension? I am beginning to worry about those who are employed in other sectors, who will be growing old, but they are employed on temporary basis, getting gratuity here and there, but having no pension at all at the end of their working life. There are so many professionals we will have to consider as we think about parliamentarians who have served this House. So, while this is dedicated to the people who worked in this House, let us just deal with it right now. We must be prepared to handle other similar cases, where people serve this nation faithfully for many years, but when it comes to retirement, they have nothing to take home. Having served as temporary workers on part-time basis, such people will have no pension to take home. Life is so expensive today. If somebody is going to give you pension, it had better be something substantial. What happens with pension in this country is that apart from the fact that people get their pension, it is far too little. Secondly, it never comes on time. We need to dig deep into what is pension. How do people enjoy it at old age? How can we do it better so that at old age, you do not suffer so much? That is when diseases come. That is when you grow old and you need money to support you. That is why many people say that when you retire and go home, you go home to die. I will never forget that statement. Many people have said that when you go"
}