Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 832946,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/832946/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 384,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof) Kamar",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 33,
        "legal_name": "Margaret Jepkoech Kamar",
        "slug": "margaret-kamar"
    },
    "content": "I agree with the Senators who have said that Kshs1.5 million is not much, but it will help them to do something for their families and invest. That amount of Kshs1.5 million may only help them to invest in a kiosk, but, at least, they will have some income for themselves that will enable them to live their lives without necessarily depending on their children. The reason we have a programme for the aged is basically because we want Kenyans to be independent of their children. That is the only thing that we can do for these former councillors. The proposal of giving them Kshs30,000 per month can enable them to live with their spouses in a decent way. I have had an occasion where a former councillor invited us for a harambee to send a child to university. It was so pathetic because the public still imagines that person was a councillor and did not invest or plan for their children. They wonder how a former councillor can invite them for a harambee. This is a misunderstanding of what this position does, because while the same councillors were serving, they were supporting the children of other people. Therefore, it is important that they get a little bit of independence, so that when they have challenges in their lives, they do not have to face these kinds of statements that make them extremely discouraged. We want to encourage people to come to leadership because they will be appreciated beyond their service in the positions that they are in. We need to delink between what your highest service was. As we finish the issue of the former councillors, we should start thinking about the Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and Members of Parliament. This way, we will have a system that is properly structured. One will go into these leadership positions knowing exactly where it will take them and what their benefits will be after that. Let this be the last one that we will deal with retrospectively. Let us plan as a country. Madam Temporary Speaker, when the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) was established, I was in the Tenth Parliament. The debate then was: “We would like to know the compensation of the President, right down to the cleaner of the President, both salary, benefits and what they will take home as their pension.” I think if we revisit and structure everybody, so that every employment and profession in this country gets remuneration that is for the day and the future, it will solve many problems. I strongly support and congratulate the Committee for picking up what was already getting into their archives. I join my colleagues in saying that let this be done as soon as possible. Let the responsible Principal Secretary (PS) and Cabinet Secretary (CS) look into this, so that our former councillors can be paid as soon as possible. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}