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{
    "id": 938324,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/938324/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 222,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tigania West, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Mutunga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13495,
        "legal_name": "John Kanyuithia Mutunga",
        "slug": "john-kanyuithia-mutunga"
    },
    "content": "Kshs2,000 or Kshs5,000 or even Kshs20,000 is not really commensurate to the level of needs in those particular houses and, therefore, the need for their terms to be improved. These people have suffered because before they became Members of Parliament, they spent most or all of their wealth trying to secure these positions. When Members of Parliament secure these positions and then they become the impoverishing factor, it is only fair for us to give them some support through some consideration as this particular Bill proposes. I support this particular Bill, realising that Kshs100,000 is significant. I looked at it from the view of the fact that whether it is then or now, it is a significant figure because it gives somebody a minimum of about Kshs3,000 a day. With Kshs3,000 a day, the lives of these people will be fairly comfortable. As many of us have alluded to as they spoke to this Bill, they will always have demands from people who have formed friendship with them and those who have known and entrusted their lives on them. Therefore, they will always be able to support them. Retirement age for a Member of Parliament is not something that is definite. Some of us are here and are fairly young. We have people who are 23 years-old and others who are 28 and so on. When Members of Parliament retire, irrespective of the level of professional capacity they have, they are rarely considered as capable of doing good business out there. There are even those who come here as consultants; they are rarely consulted after. They rarely get the jobs they used to get when they were in private service. So, it is good for us to consider some of those factors as disadvantageous to them and therefore give them this pension so that they are able to live a life that is commensurate to the level and status that they have experienced through the elevation of becoming Members of Parliament. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, without belabouring the point, I would like to also add my voice to those who have spoken to the fact that there are councillors out there who have already had consultations and meetings. I remember about three weeks ago they had a meeting here in Nairobi and they made some resolutions. Their Bill is in the Senate and it will be coming to this House. I urge my colleagues to look at that Bill and support these honourable members as well, so that they will be able to live a life of dignity and that supports their status as it were. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I support. Thank you."
}