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{
    "id": 1067077,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1067077/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 71,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipkelion East, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Joseph Limo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1915,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Kirui Limo",
        "slug": "joseph-kirui-limo"
    },
    "content": "opportunity to contribute to this important Bill. This is a House of reason and debate. It is a House which all Kenyans look upon to tell them the truth and only the truth will set this country free. When we are here, we should not appear as Members of Parliament who are only rallied around to support or to oppose. We must have reasons for taking one position or the other. Many Members have contributed. However, very few of them have talked about the cost to be incurred so that the people can decide. It is this House which will guide the country. The country is listening to us and they are looking at how we are contributing to this Bill so that the people in the villages will then make informed decisions because, tomorrow, all the people in the country will look back and ask whether we guided them properly. There are reasons why the BBI was started. One of the reasons which started this was the issue of violence after elections. So, we have to look at whether the BBI has really come up with a solution. Beyond that, we have to also guide the country on the most important thing; how much this process will cost us. I have been working around finances for a long time. I want to say that there will be two issues on cost. First, there is the immediate cost, which is short-term, which people have been talking about. People have been talking about the cost of the referendum. The cost of the referendum is not important because it will be a one-off cost. What is important is the long-term cost that will be incurred as a result of the new structures that are coming up. More offices will be created once the BBI Bill is passed. The long-term cost is two-fold. The first one is in respect of an expanded Executive. We have been told that the new Executive will not be costly because, for instance, the Prime Minister will be sitting in this House and will earn a salary as a Member of Parliament, which is not true. It is a lie. Other than the salary, there will be a lot of other costs because the Prime Minister will almost be equivalent to the President. It will be just a lower version of a president. Another thing worth noting is that we are not very clear about the powers the Prime Minister will have. The Bill should have been clear that the Prime Minister will have some independence to enable him discharge his or her duties without intimidation or much direction from the President. Anyway, it has come that way, but it will come with a lot of cost. There will be many people who will be working below the Prime Minister and the budget of that office will not be less than Kshs30 billion annually. There is also an expanded Parliament. Parliament will be very big. Let us tell Kenyans the truth. Let us tell the country the truth that this Parliament is too big. We joined this Parliament…"
}