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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kathiani, WDM-K",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Robert Mbui",
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"content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to rise in support of the adoption of this Report. I am also a little bit lost because of the terms that Members have used. I know my daughter and my parents are watching and so, I have to be very careful in terms of what I say about this. But all the same, it is not practised in the region where I come from. Fortunately, the Kamba community has advanced and moved beyond those very primitive and archaic systems of running their affairs. It is unfortunate that we are discussing an area in which women are oppressed during a time when women are fighting for more positions in leadership. It is really unfortunate. I rise to completely condemn that barbaric act. I have listened to my colleague and what she has said is the truth. Primitive men used circumcision as one of the ways of attempting to control women. If you go to some communities, you will find this oppression even in the foods that they eat. If a chicken has been slaughtered, men will want to eat the softer parts like the liver and leave things like the claws for the women. Those are very primitive ways. Looking at where the world is going, it is important that all of us realize that there is a lot of equality between the genders. In fact, many people say that women are the weaker gender but, that is not true. There are many areas where women are stronger than men. Women are stronger than men emotionally. Men may have a bit of an advantage when it comes to intellect. However, women beat us hands down emotionally. Instead of complaining, it is important that we look at the solutions. What solutions have we been offered? Political leaders can offer very good solutions to this country. Those leaders who are scared of losing votes and decide to sacrifice their women need to be looked at very keenly. Political leaders need to bite the bullet and ensure that they fight this vice to the last man. Civic education is also important. Some communities do not have enough civic education to know the benefits of not engaging in female genital mutilation. We need to ensure that civic education is also carried out in this country. Finally, there must be very serious and harsh penalties for offenders. It is important that we ensure that whoever is found culpable of this kind of vice is dealt with properly so that this issue can be done away with. I support the Committee’s Report."
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