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{
    "id": 1461119,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1461119/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 277,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13162,
        "legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
        "slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
    },
    "content": "existing plans and the personal views of the President, then you are just going to get frustrated. The question of net worth is one that has animated the nation. I saw a computation of the net worth of the nominees that are currently before the House without getting to the substance of the matter, to be Kshs10 billion and Kenyans are offended. Kenyans are offended. What is this magic that politicians play that makes them wealth that serious corporate organizations cannot make? Before I got into politics, I was in the financial services sector. You will find an insurance company collects revenue of Kshs4 billion and at the end of the day, it makes a profit of Kshs50 million, a technical profit; that is once the premiums have been collected and the claims have been paid. That is an institution that perhaps has employed 200 people, that has got branches throughout the country, that is integrated, that is creating a lot of opportunities and contributions to the GDP of this country and that is paying taxes. At the end of the day, they will probably make Kshs50 million as an underwriting profit. What is this thing that Members of Parliament do that generates them the kind of profits that even insurance companies cannot generate? It is becoming an insult to the people of this country. The majority who cannot afford, the majority hustlers, we are building for them 2 million houses, or 3 million houses and then we are proclaiming that we are billionaires. How will a billionaire understand the needs and aspirations of that person whose biggest wealth is a house worth Ksh2 million? Madam Temporary Speaker, if we were faithful to this process, those who are here should see an annexure showing how much taxes they have paid. If I am worth Kshs300 million, the taxes I pay must be different from those paid by somebody else who is worth Kshs31 million. It must be different with another person who just relies on salary and has nothing of value because his liabilities exceed his assets. Another question that must be asked is that of conflict of interest; in the substantive Act that I have referred to, there is a question of conflict of interest. If my family is doing business, perhaps in the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector and then I get into the Government as a Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, I must disclose and lay bare before Parliament how I will prevent potential conflict of interest. In fact, in serious jurisdictions, once you get into certain constitutional and statutory positions, you put your assets or wealth in a trust, so that you are no longer directly involved. Therefore, you will not be compromised when it comes to procurement and provision of opportunities. We never ask those questions. Another question that we are required to ask under the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act is whether one has ever been charged in a court of law. You do not hear those questions being asked. Another question one is supposed to be asked is whether they have ever been adversely mentioned in any report before Parliament. All the 47 county governors have been adversely mentioned in reports before this House. If we take seriously the reports of Parliament, which we must do because we are Parliament, we must ask questions, for example, during his tenure as Governor for Tana River County, did the Auditor-General ever raise queries? Did the County Public Accounts The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services, Senate."
}