Ledama Olekina

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 101 to 110 of 4219.

• 5 Dec 2024 in Senate: Finally, on the issue of extending, widening, and deepening our relations, I pray that when we go to Mombasa, we make it a reality to widen. I know my good friend--- view
• 4 Dec 2024 in Senate: Madam Temporary Speaker, let me make some brief comments on these amendments which have been proposed. We are here because of the problem that we put ourselves in. We passed Kshs400 billion. I strongly believe that form should always follow functions and money should go to counties. It was completely unprecedented that we were discussing amendments to the Division of Revenue Act (DORA), yet there was still a law in existence. The President’s refusal to sign the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, reducing the money to Kshs380 billion without even having a law supporting it, was completely unprecedented and unheard ... view
• 4 Dec 2024 in Senate: We have now found ourselves here where we need a minimum of 32 Senators - that is two-thirds as per the Constitution - to pass these amendments because essentially what we are doing is overturning the veto of the President. My first plea is that all Senators should be here this afternoon so that we send money to counties. If your Senator is not here today, residents of the 47 counties just know they are the ones denying you money. view
• 4 Dec 2024 in Senate: We must send this money. I wish we were sending Kshs400 billion, but it is what it is. We got Kshs387 billion, which is Kshs7 billion more than Kshs380 billion that the President proposed. It is less by Kshs13 billion of what we proposed but as it is, we have to send the money. I want to plead to all Senators that this is our duty and we are here to send money. We will call for accountability, but if we are not here to send the money to the counties, when projects stall and people are not paid, you ... view
• 4 Dec 2024 in Senate: I wish you gave me a little more time, please. Just turn on the light because this is very important. If we do not have Senators here today, this Bill collapses. I was not here when he was speaking but let me just speak my mind and heart. All pending bills must be first charges of accounts. We have projects in our counties for Financial Year (FY) 2022/2023 which are being launched by governors, yet we are discussing about FY2024/2025. There are pending bills that have not been paid. view
• 4 Dec 2024 in Senate: I can tell you that if your Senator is not here to pass this Bill today, you will not get money. You will have to wait until we come back after Christmas. That will be February next year. Ask yourself one question. So, pick your phone and call your Senator to tell them to go to the House and make sure they express their views and vote for this Bill to pass. At times we just have to be brutal and say what it is. If money does not go to the counties, it is your Senator who would have ... view
• 4 Dec 2024 in Senate: Moving to the other issue, we have challenges. It is time we recognised and realised that we are here as legislators. We are not here to implement projects on the ground. We have this fight on the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF), which is money that ought to go to the counties but the National Assembly is threatening to kill the County Allocation of Revenue Bill after we pass it. They want the RMLF to be considered as additional allocations. Let us separate and just deal with oranges only and not oranges and bananas. Right now we are dividing our ... view
• 3 Dec 2024 in Senate: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to support a few statements. I want to begin with the statement that deals with the welfare of retirees. It is nonsensical. You will find teachers who worked for over 20 years retiring at 60. It is time we re-evaluated the issue of retirement. Why do you retire when your brain is still working? You should continue. We need to be a bit creative on how we deal with these issues. Last week my sister called and told me that she retired in 2022. However, until today, she has not received her pension. This House ... view
• 3 Dec 2024 in Senate: to see how we can do away with these interests and penalties. Also, to put a period when you retire, you should be able to get your benefits. There is no reason why when you retire, you come to Parliament and beg us to assist you get your pension or gratuity. This is something that should be automatic, but that money invested in other ventures. Right now, the richest firms in these countries, include LAPFund and LAPTRUST. Why should they be carrying billions and billions of shillings yet they cannot pay teachers? Now, for a teacher to get their benefits, ... view
• 3 Dec 2024 in Senate: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, last week, I had to call the head of Accounting Services National Treasury to follow up on one teacher to ask them why they had not paid her dues. Why are they keeping all those files without processing teachers’ dues? This is your money which was being deducted from you as you were working. Now the law should be recrafted in a way that if the National Treasury delays in paying the retirees their benefits or their pension, they should start paying interest. Since the LAPFUND and LAPTRUST are spending the money that they are collecting ... view