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{
    "id": 1037090,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1037090/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 458,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kang’ata",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1826,
        "legal_name": "Irungu Kang'ata",
        "slug": "irungu-kangata"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the key reason why there is a proposal to increase the number of parliamentarians is the endeavor by Parliament and also the Government to adhere to the so called gender top up principle. That principle is provided for under Article 27 of the Constitution. It is a principle that has been litigated in court, all the way to the highest court of this Republic. There has been a decision that has not been vacated that we need to adhere to the two-third gender rule. As we are aware, there is even an advisory from the Chief Justice to the President to dissolve Parliament. What does that mean? We either agree to the two- thirds gender rule and increase more representation or, alternatively, we do away with this BBI amendment and Parliament still remains a contentious entity as currently constituted. To cure that, we have to agree that we cannot have our cake and eat it and we have to consider expanding the legislature. I agree that we could have thought of other ways, but I can tell you that the ways of remedying that problem are few, and we have to take that route. On the issue concerning constituencies, at a personal level, I support BBI for three reasons. Number one, minimum guaranteed return, which principle has been established by the New Article 11(a) of BBI. Number two, Ward Development Fund, which I initiated in this House. It went to the National Assembly and was torpedoed. It is now going to become a constitutional provision if BBI passes. Number three and most importantly, new constituencies. For the longest time, the people of Murang’a have been agitating for a new constituency. Now we shall have one extra constituency. I am happy that is it is not only Murang’a that is going to gain. Nairobi, Mombasa, and Mandera counties are going to gain constituencies. I am very happy when I see Bungoma and Kakamega gaining constituencies. The Rift Valley is another region that is also going to get more extra constituencies. For me, the way that constituencies have been drafted is a win-win situation. I, therefore, beg to move and support the Speech by His Excellency the President. It was well taken."
}