Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 938285,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/938285/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 183,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipkelion East, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Joseph Limo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1915,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Kirui Limo",
        "slug": "joseph-kirui-limo"
    },
    "content": "Akiwumi Commission that we backdate to 1st July 2010, the country will be required to fund it to a tune of Kshs1.7 billion for a one-off payment. Effectively, if we assume that we implement it, in the first year we will be required to use around Kshs1.7 billion to clear the arrears, then continue to pay for the current year and subsequent years which will amount to almost Kshs200 million. That is affordable. It is not more than Kshs20 million per month, but we will have enabled former Members to live a decent life. On the same note, there was a feeling that there is some discrimination. When it comes to payment of pension in this country, we criminalise MPs saying that they should serve two terms while in other sectors, as long as you have completed six months in employment, you are entitled to pension and you will be pensionable when you leave employment depending on the number of years you have worked. There is no problem in allowing that even if you have served for one term. That pension is pro-rated and you are paid according to the length of time you have served in this House. If we criminalise it and insist that one must have served two terms, it is discrimination and not in the spirit of the current Constitution. The current Constitution does not allow any member of the public or Kenyan to be discriminated against in terms of age or whatever condition which limits you. If everybody is required to serve three months, let it be three months. If it is six months, let it be six months. It should not be five years, yet it is contributory. We are punishing MPs for nothing. We are our own enemies. One of the former MPs who appeared before us told us that he was in a key position in Parliament then. He did not know that he would be a victim. All of us are very sure we are coming back. But you never know. You do not know what the members of your constituency are thinking about. Therefore, you are not in control. Whatever you do, do it for posterity. Therefore, I urge you to support this Bill. We will propose certain amendments which I urge MPs to support because they are for the good of the country. On the same note, there are also other people who served this country before and they appeared before us one time when we were talking about pension. They boarded buses from wherever they came from and appeared before us. We had nothing to tell them then because we did not have any business which was covering former councillors. Former councillors play a key role in the villages. When we are not there, they address meetings. They assure the public that everything is good. They are not Members of County Assemblies or MPs but they did not get anything. They had brought a petition to the Senate but as you know, the Constitution states that Money Bills are only transacted in this House. In case the matter lands in this House, let us help former councillors. Even if they get a one-off payment, it will help them prolong their lives or start small businesses. Even if they start kiosks, it is better than having nothing, yet they always receive visitors in their houses. They are still called councillors. People go to them when they have a problem and ask them to call their MPs. You will find that sometimes they do not have airtime. I will end by saying that this is a good Bill. Let us help our former MPs who have always been here with us. They take tea with us and you think they are happy. They are not. They are only resilient. Otherwise, they are in trouble. The earlier we help them the better. Let us help them to get something so that they can have something to smile about when they are with their"
}