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{
    "id": 813344,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/813344/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 88,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also want to add my voice to this Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) (Amendment) Bill. The political job is a thankless job. Many times people in these offices sacrifice too much because there is need for them to do the job that has been assigned to them during their time in office and they normally empty everything including family savings. This happens when the public does not require them in office, when voting patterns do not favour them or when their term comes to an end because of a constitutional dispensation. In either case, we need to treat our retired Presidents, Deputy Presidents and the constitutional office holders that are entitled to these retirement benefits well. I was impressed over the weekend to see the former President of United States of America (USA) enjoying the trappings of power even after he has left office. Nothing was removed from him including the Secret Service preventing our own governor from attending a function within his county. That is what I call recognition. For us, that recognition is lacking. If it means that we embed this in the law, so be it because it is important. I remember when I served in Parliament and later, I left. When I went to check my retirement benefits I could not believe the pay slip. It was just peanuts. I looked at it and said is this all I am worth after all these years of service? That is when I realized that people who retire without clear benefits are really in trouble. I have seen many other officers particularly those who were in the Office of the Vice President and have nothing to their record. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have also noticed that we should not make this retirements benefits at the whims of anybody who may be in power at that time. Let it be a clearly legislative decision that when a person retires, regardless of what they want to do, they are not disenfranchised from enjoying the benefits of their retirement. It is so important. Since it also touches on the Office of the Speaker, I have no shame to say that eventually, when you will not be voted back to office, you should enjoy reasonable perks to maintain the dignity of a former Speaker. By the time you reach that level, there would have been a unanimous decision by the Senators who are in this House. To find you on the streets walking around, looking for little help here and there, would be a shame on us; that we have not taken care of the retirement benefits of our top echelons, who have served this nation with distinction. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I fully support this Bill. However, once it becomes an Act of Parliament, let us not tamper with the provisions of this Bill. That is where the problem starts. Depending on whether or not somebody likes you, they would then dictate when you should get that retirement. We will put conditions that if you do A, B, C and D, then you are entitled to this retirement. That is the area we want to get rid of, so that it is a 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."
}