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{
    "id": 938394,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/938394/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 292,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tharaka, DP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Gitonga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13491,
        "legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
        "slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Thank you for those accolades. Yes, now he is my boss. That is good enough. Life is like that. I wish this Bill was brought at that time because what comes in mind are my first two Members of Parliament who served from 1963 to 1988. As expected, these were arch rivals in politics. They could not see eye to eye because they were competing for the seat until they interchanged it between themselves. However, what brought my curiosity is their sunset days. They were best of friends. In my estimation, what brought them together was nothing to talk about except poverty. These people were poor. The two of them would come to Nairobi, I think to chase small paltry allowances here. Eventually, as young men who were working that time, we would contribute money for them to go back home. The first one, Hon. Njeru Gituriandu, died because he could not afford to live a decent life while his predecessor, Hon. Njagi wa Kiondo, died from an ailment which could have been treated if he had a proper medical cover. So, this is what we are saying should be avoided. It should be avoided at all costs, so that former Members of Parliament who are alive and have not been lucky enough to get jobs, either in politics or something different, can get something. I am happy that wa Kiondo’s predecessor is today a deputy governor. I revere him. I adore his style. The one who succeeded that present-day deputy governor is a practising advocate and he lives a decent life. They lead decent lives. As we debate this Bill, and as Hon. Ferdinand Wanyonyi has proposed, I think we should look at the spouses left behind by former Members of Parliament who have since transited to the next world. We may make provision for the living spouses of deceased former Members of Parliament to be considered for some form of pension. A pension is always a lifetime gain such that when the earning spouse dies, the surviving spouse earns until his or her demise. This is what we should be looking at. Most importantly, Kenyans are one of the best payers of taxes. In as much as we complain that we pay high taxes, we have to ask ourselves whether we cannot afford a portion of the taxes to former Members of Parliament, so that they can also live decent lives that are beneficial to them. Otherwise, we have people who earn from our taxes and sometimes they work with impunity. I have in mind what I witnessed yesterday in terms of police officers, on whom we have entrusted our faith and our trust, meting out extreme violence to innocent students. Students may have been committing acts of hooliganism or whatever it was, but they do not deserve that kind of treatment. We must condemn it in all terms. Why do we call for some payment to former Members of Parliament in the form of pension? One, the money they get will possibly lead to better lives for them such that they have a better plate of food on their tables and can get better clothing. They come to visit here and we see their manner of dressing, which makes us quite anxious. Secondly, we were told that there are former Members of Parliament who cannot afford rent wherever they have rented houses in"
}