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{
    "id": 469613,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/469613/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 224,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Anyang’-Nyong’o",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 193,
        "legal_name": "Peter Anyang' Nyong'o",
        "slug": "peter-nyongo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I want to follow the footsteps of all those who have spoken and support the Motion very strongly. I recall that when I first entered Parliament in 1993, we were being paid Kshs23,000 every month. Sen. G. G. Kariuki was there too. I had been working for the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) Programmes and I was being paid Kshs86,000 a month. Therefore, I took a tremendous salary cut to be a Member of Parliament. It is only in Parliament where there is no career path and recognition of how long you have served. It does not matter how many times you are elected. The rate is the same. What is worse is that after the Cockar Commission had recommended, very wisely, that the terms of service for Members of Parliament be improved. After that had been implemented to an extent that salaries came to about Kshs800,000; somebody now wants not only to refuse to recognize the length of service people have given, but also to take us down to a lower figure. I do not think that in terms of human rights and the national labour laws, this is allowed. One thing that is certain is that it is good to have a Salaries and Remuneration Commission because for a long time we always said that Kenya needed to review incomes. However, when you are doing so, you cannot import injustice into the process. This will not work. Further, I gave you an example earlier when I was speaking to the previous Motion of the son of Joe Biden who is the Attorney-General in Delaware. He refused to take up his father’s position in the Senate because he was serving the people of Delaware. He loves his job and values that there are citizens in Delaware. He is being given a proper remuneration to stay there rather than go to the Senate. This is what we must look into with regard to county assembly persons. They should stay in their positions long enough to add value to the assemblies, but not to run away as they have run away today, from what I understand. That does not set a very good example. In any case, if we refuse to recognize these needs and insist that because of some figures worked out somewhere they must continue to serve as determined by this person, they will be disgruntled for the five years they are there and we will not get very good value from their service to the assemblies. This is what the English call being penny wise and pound foolish. You are trying to conserve money, but you are not getting value for what you are giving. This is really foolish as far as I am concerned. It is better to enter into dialogue with the county The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}