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{
    "id": 1066152,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1066152/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 118,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Nyamunga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 738,
        "legal_name": "Rose Nyamunga Ogendo",
        "slug": "rose-nyamunga-ogendo"
    },
    "content": "Kenya is a good place. Kenya is wealthy enough for each one of us to produce enough to sustain ourselves. We cannot compare our country to the developed world. Secondly, we cannot compare our country with the developed countries. Some Members of this Senate have been saying that in some developed democracies, they have only 50 representatives. Those are developed democracies where systems work. Our system is not working. Before we fix our system to make it work, we must make sure that our people get adequate representation. We should not trivialize what is important to us like representing our people adequately. We are talking of vast constituencies that you cannot go round and finish even if you took two days. You cannot compare that with countries that have developed systems, where you just press a button and things work. We must work towards being there, but before we are there, we must make sure that our people are properly represented. Those are the main issues I wanted to comment on. I now want to debate on the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill. As already mentioned, it may not have been perfect. I also have issues but we know that this is the beginning of a process that will continue from generation to generation and with time, other generations will look back and say that the people of Kenya did something. I would like to talk about the minority rights. As it is, Parliament is not properly constituted. We have already mentioned that the women voice is not being heard. If I become the female Senator for Kisumu County, while my male counterpart may be addressing other issues, maybe more important issues according to them, as a woman, I may address issues that affect women. We look at gender-based violence. I have never heard men bring anything to do with gender-based violence, child defilement and raping of women. We also have issues of water and health. We must combine efforts to make sure that we give Kenyans representation in wholeness, such that they feel that they belong and leaders take care of them. The way nominations are done, they look at the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) who have been elected. With the passage of this Bill, it will depend on the number of votes attained by each party. Through that, the minority will be taken care of. Members, the most important thing we should be looking at is not about us because that is selfishness. It should be about the interest of our people and the people who are voiceless. That is where our concentration should be. If there are minorities, we should make sure that they are taken care of within the Constitution. I want to talk about economic expansion. The proposed Article 10(a) seeks to promote regional integration and cohesion in East Africa and the rest of Africa. Today, we are hosting the President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Why are we hosting her? Apart from visiting us, I believe there are issues of economic importance that they will address, so that we move as a region, East Africa and Africa. This will also ensure that we enhance our economy and trade. Those are some of the issues contained in the amendments. Regarding growth of small enterprises, our young people have yearned for that for a very long time. We have had the Youth Enterprise Fund, Women’s Enterprise Fund and The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}