NAIROBI, Kenya, May 6 – Parliament has pledged to foot all hospital and funeral expenses for the Shinyalu Member of Parliament Charles Lilechi Lugano.
Speaking when he visited the family of the late Lugano on Tuesday evening, Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende said the Legislature would assist them in the days of grief.
“As Parliament we will stay in solidarity with you. We will support as best as we can as an institution. From the way we do things in the House, we will fund all hospital bills incurred and foot the budget of the funeral expenses,” he pledged.
At the same time, Mr Marende advised the family to appoint administrators who would run the late MP’s estate.
“We will expect the family will act in unison and be able to appoint administrators to the estate and other entitlements to the late, who would be in charge of accounting for all the property and how its divided should the need arise.”
Mr Marende argued that would be the only way of avoiding any ugly squabbles amongst family members.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was also in attendance, delivered his personal condolences and those of President Mwai Kibaki to the bereaved family.
Once again, the Premier noted that Mr Lugano’s death was a big blow to his family, his constituents and the nation.
“The death was particularly painful to his party ODM, which has lost four other MPs since the last election in 2007.”
The Speaker is expected to declare the Shinyalu seat vacant by issuing a writ to the constituency’s returning officer within two months.
On Tuesday afternoon, legislators observed a one-minute silence in the House after the Speaker eulogised their fallen colleague.
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