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{
    "id": 47419,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/47419/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 301,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Shakeel",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 140,
        "legal_name": "Ahmed Shakeel Shabbir Ahmed",
        "slug": "shakeel-shabbir"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. Since I am the only person present, I will represent the Finance, Planning and Trade Committee. This Bill was brought to us for comments. We made the comments but because I cannot see anyone here, I wish to put those comments on record. First, I stand to support this appropriately timed Bill. Once this is done, Parliamentarians will no longer set their own wages or salaries, or anybody else for that matter. I would like to go straight to the issues. First, on the qualifications, Clause 5(1) (a) says:- âA person shall be qualified for appointment as the chairperson if such a person- (a) holds a degree from a university recognized in Kenya.â We felt that there were people who had professional qualifications which are akin to degrees and, sometimes, even higher than degrees. I know that the Chairman of the Commission on Revenue Allocation and former Governor of Central Bank, Mr. Cheserem, is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya. That is a very high qualification, but it is not covered in this matter. It only talks about a degree from a recognized university. This could be a degree in anything. This is one area that we must consider having an amendment. The second point is that on the same clause, it says that the chairman should be a person who- âhas knowledge and, at least, fifteen yearsâ experience in matters relating to eitherâŚâ This matter was well thought out and discussed. If we intend to give the youth of Kenya any chance, 15 years from the time they qualify, one would have to wait until they are between 40 to 45 years of age. This, we felt, was punitive to the process of involving youths. That was proposed to be ten years. Likewise, in 5(2)(a), we said that relevant professional qualification must be covered. The issue of whether members would serve part time or full time was discussed in great detail. We discussed it and it was the opinion of the Committee that it must remain part time. Many commissioners start taking up secretariat roles of running the commission. We felt that the secretariat must be strong. It should do all the data processing. We thought that for them to work part time was better. They can be called upon at any time. They could also serve on a full time basis but on a short term when there is a crisis. However, we felt that they should serve on part time basis. The other issue that was raised related to the time that the commissioners would serve. We felt that six years was good. However, we also felt that, as it is in the United States and other countries, after six years, there is a completely new set of people who would not know what has been happening. So, we decided that we stagger the appointments of members of the committee so that they can overlap the six year period. The other issue that arose was about equity. As much as we were talking about equity, we also wanted to bring out the issue of pension. I had the opportunity to meet a very old friend of my father. That man has served this country for very many years - over 30 years. He ended up as a Chief Justice. When he told me what his pension was over 15 years ago â and it is still stuck there, I was astounded. My driver gets paid much more than that gentleman who has served this country. Something should be done about pensions. This Bill is meant to bring equity in salaries and bridge the great differences between the public and private sector. It is very important that this Bill handles that situation. I remember J.M. Kariuki once said that we will have 10 millionaires and 10 million beggars. I think we are now having 40 billionaires and 40 million beggars. So, we need to move on this. The other day, there was a demonstration by people who could no longer feed themselves due to increase in the prices of commodities, yet their salaries had remained the same. If we do not do something to harmonise the great inequities between these two aspects, we will be in great trouble."
}

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