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{
    "id": 1166163,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1166163/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 345,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Mwaura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13129,
        "legal_name": "Isaac Maigua Mwaura",
        "slug": "isaac-mwaura"
    },
    "content": "Parliament is a source of law. So, it can be the informality that constitute the formal. Therefore, it needs everybody from all walks of life as long as they have attained excellence. They can be elected from traders, professionals, teachers, fishmongers and the best sweeper in town if they so convince the electorate that they can be elected, then so be it. That also enhances the sacrosanct principle of equal opportunity for all. I support and also dissuade Sen. M. Kajwang’ from believing that a degree should apply to only 20 Senators and the 12 Members of the National Assembly who are elected on first-past-the-post to represent special interest groups as per the party lists. I beg to differ because when you are elected to Parliament, whether on first-past- the-post or through a party-list, you are supposed to have qualifications just like any other legislator. That will be discriminatory. It may look positive but it will not apply as such because whatever is good for the goose is good for the gander. We need to ask ourselves questions. Earlier on, we had a preoccupation for presidents attending all university graduation ceremonies because they were chancellors of all universities. They could have even 20 honorary degrees conferred on them. That did not necessarily lead to a better country. I do not think those that got those accolades ended up becoming the best presidents or vice presidents. It is important to accept that there is hue and cry especially from MCAs. Most of them are the local merchants, boda boda riders, mama mbogas and carpenters who have the support of “Wanjiku” to represent them in the county assemblies. We were to demonstrate that people who have got higher levels of academic qualifications qualify to be better leaders. Kenyans would see for themselves and would therefore make that decision without any form of legislation. To add to it, there is a way in which when you have too many people who are educated in the leadership system, they tend up mediating or interlocuting conversations and decision-making to the extent that they become lofty and far removed from the people. Therefore, we need to have a proper mix of people who have gone to school and those who are street smart. That mix is actually the full essence of representation. Therefore, this Bill needs to be amended. I also agree that one needs to have some kind of post-secondary education and not just being able to read and write because that lowers the bar too low. Remember this has got an effect on how MPs are categorized in terms of the hierarchy and order of precedence in this country. If that is the case, our remuneration will be lowered way below even the position of commissioners and other office holders that we vet. One may say this is a reaction of those that have degrees or professionals who feel they are better than politicians who get elected into office. Yes, but equally true is the fact that we have quality representation. Therefore, we do not need to lower it further down."
}