Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1054084,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1054084/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 290,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kimilili, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Chris Wamalwa",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1885,
        "legal_name": "Didmus Wekesa Barasa Mutua",
        "slug": "didmus-wekesa-barasa-mutua"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. The law of succession is important. We have seen cases where when a man dies, there is a lot of intermeddling with the property. The law of succession must give a clear framework on what should happen to the property of the deceased. This amendment seeks to harmonise the Marriage Act that was passed in this House which recognises the five systems of marriage, namely; Civil, Christian, Hindu, customary and Islamic. It is only the customary and the Islamic marriages that have a potential of polygamy. It is only after a person dies that we see people emerging to reap where they never sowed. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, this amendment seeks to bring some clarity that in the event that a person dies, there is proper protection of the spouses, children and the legitimate people who are supposed to be the beneficiaries. We have seen instances where children of the deceased are chased from school because the ruling on the succession matter has delayed. We now have a total paradigm shift which will be treated by the term “spouse”. In the traditional days men were supposed to take care of women, but women are now taking care of men as we saw in the case of the Keroche family. It was trending in the social media that young men are now looking for sponsors. When you talk of a spouse, it does not just refer to a man taking care of a woman and you do not need to prove that because the old Act states that if a man was being maintained by a woman prior to her death, it is automatic that he becomes the beneficiary of her estate. The Marriage Act states that both the husband the wife have equal rights. This is an important amendment that will add a lot of value by protecting the spouses and children so as to deal with those who want to reap where they never sowed by rushing to courts."
}