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{
    "id": 812737,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/812737/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 371,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I do not agree with him politically and I am not in his party for I am a Member of the Jubilee family. I believe in the President, his Deputy and their agenda for this country but that does not mean that I stop looking at issues objectively. The Constitution in Article 38 provides what we call political rights. Article 38(1)says- “Every citizen is free to make political choices, which includes the right- (a) to form, or participate in forming, a political party; (b) to participate in the activities of, or recruit members for, a political party; or (c) to campaign for a political party or cause.” There is no subsidiary legislation or Act of Parliament that can contradict the Constitution and if any law or Act of Parliament contradicts the Constitution, then it is null and void to the extent of that contradiction. I told those of us who were opposing his presidential bid to deal with him politically other than using the law or his retirement funds, which were owed to him for he had been a Prime Minister and a Member. I told them not to try and gain any political mileage from that. In fact, if anything, it made us look small. I know that I got into trouble but I have an act of getting into trouble and I am not concerned by that. I stand by what is right and what is true. Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and give Musalia, Raila, Kalonzo, Ruto, Uhuru and Kibaki what belongs to them rightfully. I have also had questions on what happens to Members once they leave Parliament. We have heard people say that there are those who languish in poverty so we should get perks that will assist us yet I find that to be very irresponsible of us. Kenyans are out there doing their own work and when one gets elected, they should know that they have a five year contract which can be renewed or not. I got into Parliament when I was 28 years old and I am now eligible to a pension after this term though I cannot get it until I get to 45 years of age which will still be a wear out for in 2022, I will be 37 years old. That means that if I do not get re-elected, I have to wait. The law does not prohibit us from engaging in economic activities and business so long as it is not gainful employment for that is the only thing that we are prohibited from getting engaged in. People should not see public office as a method of self- enrichment. These are not permanent jobs, they are contracts that we get when people want us to serve them. It expires when they decide that they do not want us to serve them so they will send us home. In fact, we were having a discussion with some Members in the lounge, including Sen. Ndwiga, who has been in Parliament, out and back again and one of the Senators gave an analogy that being a politician is like being in a shop. He said that there is a time when a potential buyer will come and look through your shop then go to the next shop just to come in later after probably two days and buy something from you. At some point, Kenyans might say that they are tired of Sen. Sakaja or Sen. Olekina, thus they will not elect them in 2022 just for them to elect them in 2027 to a higher office. Therefore, let us not look at the positions that we hold whether you are an MCA, MP, Senator or a Governor, as a position of economic empowerment or self-enrichment. 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."
}