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{
    "id": 1069880,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1069880/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 70,
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    "content": "mainstream media want them to see. This is when there is a discussion on the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and Members are talking about terms of service. And these are few times. This is what is blown out of proportion. The other day when Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan addressed us, the cartoon in the Nation was somebody telling Her Excellency, “Please wear your mask, you are going to very dangerous people.” This is the perception that the media continues to sustain out there so that we are demonised. No wonder the rate of re-election is low; the turnover in this House is almost 77 per cent, higher than in most countries in the world where experience is valued. In Luo, we say that the waking up of the bull is what shows its maturity. It is what enriches that bull. This Parliament spends a lot of resources in capacity building for Members, such that if you keep changing Members then you do not retain that experience. Every single term you start to build capacity of Members afresh. I feel that these parliamentary broadcasting channels will give an opportunity to Members to showcase their work. When I served in the Parliamentary Service Commission in the last Parliament, I was the Chair of the ICT, Public Relations and Outreach and we saw how much misunderstood Parliament was. We did have a chance to visit the Parliament of South Africa, for example—the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. They do have an elaborate public outreach programme to make the public understand what Parliament does, and not just on the Floor of the House. If 349 of us sit here, we tried it with the BBI Bill, only 20 or 30 Members were speaking every so often. These broadcasting channels should give full coverage to our committees and to what Members do when they go on field trips. Committees of this House go out there and visit with the people. When I served on the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Services, we would go out there to see whether or not the elderly receive the money they are supposed to be given. But none of this is covered in the mainstream media. So, I really support this move. The only thing I would urge—and I am happy that the Vice-Chair of the PSC is here with us—is speed so that this happens as quickly as possible in the term of this Parliament. Come to our constituencies and see what people do there. Display it on the channel 24 hours. We should just run our work and feed Kenyans with what we truly do. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I support."
}