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{
    "id": 345995,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/345995/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 385,
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    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We have been discussing the Bill by hon. Dr. Monda this morning. These Bills give meaning and life to the new Constitution in many new ways. Everytime I stand up in this House, when I hear the Government announce grand policies about granting money to the elderly persons, I always remember those old men now in their sunset years, the Mau Mau war heroes; the people who fought in the forest. Most of them are dead but less than 10,000 are now remaining in this country. These people are spread all over Kenya. They had to go to a high court in London to sue for recognition of their contributions to this country. It is a crying shame that we have to go the United Kingdom to file cases in order to recognize they are heroes. This is something that we ought to have done as a matter of public duty long time ago. Therefore, even as I support this Bill, I recognise that it leaves again the Mau Mau war veterans. These are people who deserve recognition for making this country independent. These are men and women way down in Nyanza, Coast, North Eastern and Eastern provinces and Mt. Kenya region who fought and gave their lives to get freedom for this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I hope and trust that when the Mover of this Bill gets our views and the Bill gets to the Third Reading, he will create a specific category of the Veterans Honours Committee so that we can put mechanisms in place for identifying, naming and bringing the names of those who are remaining to this House not only for awards but for making some monetary contributions in their sunset years of their lives in recognition of the great contributions they have made to this country. Every single year on Madaraka Day and on what used to be Moi Day and Jamhuri Day, you would get sick when you read the Kenya Gazette and see the people who were being honoured under the categories of the National Orders. I sometimes see names of torturers or people who were responsible for grave torture in Nyayo House getting awards from the President at State House saluting him. It is not just President Kibaki but before him, President Moi and President Kenyatta. They have been getting honours for grievous human rights violations. Therefore, I am glad that in this Bill, there are provisions for revoking such appointments. We demean and degrade these honours when they are given to men and women who are responsible for creating a society in this country that belittles what we stood for. I hope that when this Bill is passed, and it will be passed before we go home at the end of this Session, we will have it in place with specific provisions naming not only the Mau Mau veterans but also making special provisions for examinations for all the honours that have been given since Independence before a Committee that can vet them and where necessary make recommendations for the revocation. That is the only way you can enjoy wearing an EGH after your name if you know that it is well deserving and has a good meaning. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this has been an exercise of rewarding sycophancy for too long. There have been some changes in the last years of Kibaki administration but before that, it was those who shouted loudest, those who exhibited the most irrational speeches in public and those who committed murders who got these honours. When we saw them walking into the gates of State House to get those awards, we would say that it is good not to be given those awards. So, we need to clean up the list"
}