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"content": "who are entitled to a retirement benefit are given a standard and consistent application across the board. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I stand to support this Bill because in the past, we have seen situations where these benefits have been used as tools of intimidation. For instance, I know that when retired President Moi was told to get into the aircraft and go back to Kabarak, he was also told that if he gets involved in politics, he will not get his retirement benefits. However, to be involved in the politics of this country and to do anything they would like to do is a democratic right of every citizen under the Bill of rights. This is, therefore, a human rights issue and they have a right, having served this country, to be compensated without any conditions, intimidations or anything that would infringe on their personal freedoms. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we see a lot of former legislators coming here, hanging around and literally pledging allegiance to the powers that be at the moment. This is perhaps because they did not get compensated adequately or they were unfortunately subjected to some whimsical application of who gets to be compensated for the services they rendered. Therefore, depending on whether or not you are in favor with the powers that be or who you knew, you got something or you did not get something. Those who did not know anybody then just went into oblivion. Therefore, what I like about this Bill is that it brings certain minimum standards that apply to everybody in a fair and just manner. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is about time that we institutionalised things in this country and not personalized them or give them to people as personal favours. We have watched this country almost being converted into people’s personal foundations or charitable cases. We have seen cases where regions would receive development because some benefactor has said so, has organized a harambee or because somebody has gone to the office of somebody else and the person has said that you get what you actually deserve in the first place. We pay taxes and if you have served in a certain capacity, you deserve to be treated equally no matter where you come from, who you know or do not know. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is precisely the kind of legislation that this House should be legislating to ensure that citizens of this country are treated equally, because it is a rights issue. Nobody should be discriminated against and everybody has a right to be compensated adequately for the services they have given. They should also be treated equally, whether or not they know somebody in high office. Similarly, they should be guarded against any intimidation or withholding of what is rightfully theirs by forcing them to stay out of politics, out of an office, having any opinions or saying anything against somebody in power. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a very progressive legislation that seeks to empower and serve justice to our public officers. Even though the title of the Bill reads “Deputy President and designated officers,’ we may consider broadening its scope to cover all public servants or all public officers. I know that it is subsumed under the designated, but perhaps we may want to broaden that. With that said, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support this Bill and look forward to its implementation. If there are any regulations or pieces of legislation that need to be reviewed as a result of this Bill, we then need to move with speed to ensure that it is done. 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."
}