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{
    "id": 812713,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/812713/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 347,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Mwaura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13129,
        "legal_name": "Isaac Maigua Mwaura",
        "slug": "isaac-mwaura"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, the issue of retirement benefits for senior public officials is a matter that we need to canvas ably in this august House. Yesterday, as I was speaking, my main concern was the fact that there are so many commitments that public officials make for the benefit of this country. If these benefits are not seen as to ensure our country is able to run effectively and that these leaders end up being ridiculed by the kind of lives that they lead after they leave public office, then we are encouraging people to cling onto power. This is the reason why in most African governments, you will find people not willing to retire. Mr. Mo Ibrahim, the founder of Celtel has come up with a very innovative award scheme to ensure that the presidents who retire voluntarily are able to go home with dignity. We all saw what happened in Zimbabwe. The military had to come in for one President Robert Mugabe, to retire from public office. Madam Temporary Speaker, I do not want to belabor the point but a majority of our retiring parliamentarians live in abject poverty. These are people who have no future because they are unemployable. When you have led a very robust public life and now you are in the process that you cannot go back to be under somebody; maybe you are too big for that institution, it certainly means that you do not benefit from whatever economic activity that others would very willingly achieve. That is because you have the baggage of being a ‘ mheshimiwa. ’ There is a lifestyle that you are expected to live. 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."
}