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{
    "id": 457022,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/457022/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 194,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Abdalla",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 382,
        "legal_name": "Amina Ali Abdalla",
        "slug": "amina-abdalla"
    },
    "content": "or facilitate the withdrawal of such an honour, does not give a regulation that would then show you that once you are declared a hero, you cannot be seen doing certain things. We need the criteria because we are honouring people in different categories and in some categories some activities could be part of the job description. We would need to give them criteria that should you pass this limit, you would be getting into danger zones and you would be possibly denied your chance to serve. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want us to also deal with a transitional aspect of this matter. How does the heroes award link to the current honours list? I am worried that if we do not state in this Bill very clearly that the mere fact that you have an EGH or MBS does not make you a hero, we will have a lot of undeserving individuals currently holding those positions wanting to be given financial assistance and State funerals. So, I would like that, that matter of having that transitional clause is taken seriously. That would be a good way of putting a closure date for conferment of these awards. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I am also concerned that we are stating in this Bill that we are setting up a council and there is nowhere in the Bill that states that this council is part time. I do not believe the job of identifying a hero would be a full time job. For those of us who are very passionate about reducing the wage bill, we should not allow this Bill to state that. We are just increasing the wage bill on a job that would then mean that, if I am employed full time and I have very few heroes to identify, I can create heroes where they do not exist. This job must be part time so that we do not end up spending too much time and money. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I am also concerned that on the issue of funding, there is lack of creativity in Government funds. Everybody just expects the Exchequer to fund these activities. It is just the normal standard that we shall receive monies from the Exchequer and donations and whatever. None of Government established funds are actually generating money apart from what they receive from the Exchequer. So, this is another dent to the Exchequer and we are not being proactive. I would urge the Committee that is dealing with this matter to look at how to address it in terms of either giving it seed money and for that money to be invested by those funds so that they are able to grow rather than to keep waiting for us to give it more funding. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, with those very many remarks, I just note with concern that of all these things we are saying, who is responsible for ensuring that they are taken into account? In the past, the then Minister would be sitting here and the Executive there taking note of what we are saying. For those of us who are not moving amendments but might be raising substantive issues, who is recording them in terms of further action? I am worried that they will remain in the HANSARD and there is no personal liability. I think that should be something that the leadership of this House truly needs to look into. If this Bill passes, I am sure we will start with giving that honour to hon. Wangari Maathai. On the issue of Ministers, I would say that if I was asked to propose a name, I would propose that of Martha Karua because she was able to reduce the cost of drilling boreholes by 50 per cent."
}