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{
    "id": 404843,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/404843/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 211,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mulu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1955,
        "legal_name": "Benson Makali Mulu",
        "slug": "benson-makali-mulu"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I also rise to support this very important Bill, bearing in mind the fact that accidents in this country happen daily these days. Many Kenyans die and others lose their limbs. Therefore, this Bill will help Kenyans once they get into such situation. I like the schedule because it will help judges and magistrates in terms of determining how much should be paid to individuals who have lost either their lives or limbs or arms. Once enacted, this law will help this country because previously, it was left to the discretion of judges and magistrates to determine how much compensation a victim should be paid. With this schedule in place, even victims can know how much compensation to expect. The idea of knowing how much compensation one is to expect is very important because in this country, a number of lawyers have actually taken advantage of accident of victims. I know a number of victims who have been pursuing compensation from lawyers throughout their post-accident lives. When you investigate the cases, you find that the insurance companies have actually paid the money into the lawyers’ account. What happens is that the lawyers take the victims round in circles. Meanwhile, the victims’ children will have been chased out of school. Their sick ones will have died because they cannot pay hospital bills. Once this Bill is passed, it will be very easy for victims of accidents to follow up their payments with lawyers because they will be having an idea of how much compensation they should be paid. However, at the same time, I would like to plead with the Committee. We need to do something so that any lawyer who takes advantage of accident victims can be punished because what they do to Kenyans is very unfair. At the same time, the issue of maximum compensation is kind of a double-edged sword because if we increase the amount, insurance premiums are also likely to go up. A compensation of Kshs3 million for somebody who has died in Kenya is not much money, bearing in mind inflation and the cost of prices that come with it. So, I will be pleading with the Committee to see whether this figure could be increased but at the same time take caution so that insurance premiums do not go too high for bus owners and matatu owners. With those recommendations and comments, I support the Bill. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}