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{
    "id": 1031379,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1031379/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 334,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kajiado East, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Peris Tobiko",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13239,
        "legal_name": "Janet Marania Teyiaa",
        "slug": "janet-marania-teyiaa"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. It was going to be a crime if I did not speak on this one. I rise to support the Motion because I come from a community that practices this tradition. I hope that many of my voters are listening and watching. In no uncertain terms this is one of the cultural practices that must and should end like yesterday. FGM has denied our girls their right to a complete life, education and self-actualisation in all areas. FGM tradition has been used to subdue, oppress and intimidate women. The reason why girls from most pastoralist communities are not participating fully in the economy, education or realising their full potential is because of this very harmful tradition. It has intimated and traumatised them. I do not care how many votes I lose because of speaking on this one. That is why I want my voters to get it categorically that I do not support FGM and it must stop. It is a debate I have participated in my entire life. Growing up, one time when I was in high school, I went back home for holidays. I told my younger sister that she should not go through this. I hope she is also watching me. She told me she must and when I went back to school, she went through the process. Later on, in life because she is lucky to have had some education and is a powerful woman in this country today, she told me she wished she had listened because she would be completely different today. She said if she could meet the woman who took her through it, she would sue her. I know she is listening to me. Therefore, since I do not want the young girls growing up to regret, I say we need to stop this and take deterrent measures. Any person in my constituency who will practice this I will not defend them in anyway. I am a mother of three girls who I have protected dearly. I told them from the time they were very young that they must protect themselves and not allow anybody to touch them. Today I am happy that my girls have not gone through this. My bigger duty is to protect my constituents and other women in the pastoralist communities to realise their full potential. When Hon. Makau wanted to stop this debate, I felt bad. I hope he will forgive me because this issue is so emotional and dear to me. I almost felt like he was trying to take away some of our rights. Sometimes you feel like the same intimidation and subjugation is what is going on even at this level. I am happy that I am one of the few who have found my voice, but how many have remained voiceless. I rise to support and I urge that all Kenyans must save our girls. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}