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{
    "id": 1066174,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1066174/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 140,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Omanga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13175,
        "legal_name": "Millicent Omanga",
        "slug": "millicent-omanga"
    },
    "content": "On the gender issues, we may say, yes, we have attained the two-thirds gender rule, but why would we have women in the National Assembly nominated and not elected? I agree that we should have the 47 women in the Senate, but also retain the 47 in the National Assembly. We know the kind of intimidation nominated Members go through. Imagine over 100 nominated Members in the National Assembly who cannot make an independent decision because they have to toe the party line. You cannot stand with the people because you have to toe the line with the Executive like is happening now. Imagine what will happen now that the numbers are going to increase. Madam Temporary Speaker, the nomination will be based on the numbers you garner from single constituencies. Where do we leave the areas where we have less population? It means it is an advantage to the constituencies, which are endowed with numbers. What happens to people from Garissa, Wajir and Isiolo? Does it mean we will not have women from the marginalized areas, but will only have women from Nairobi, Kiambu and Nakuru where we have more people? I think that is not equity. On the nominations in the National Assembly, the Cabinet will be coming from the National Assembly. We have to achieve the two-thirds gender rule in the Cabinet. That means that the nominated women who will go the National Assembly are the ones who will benefit from it. If all the 360 constituencies are for men and we top up with women, we will only have nominated women sitting in the Cabinet. It even kills morale because we need to have elected women in these powerful positions for decision making in this country. As women, we will also lose the affirmative fund. As much as my colleagues are saying that they sat and came up with the fund and will still do the same in the Senate, it will not be the same. Oversight fund is not the same as affirmative action fund. Kenyans know the benefits of ‘Mama County’ having funds to deal with the soft issues in society. It has helped and elevated the lives of our women, youth and children in our communities. If we have them in the Senate, there is no way you will say the 47 women in the Senate will get some affirmative funds and their male counterparts will not get because we are talking about equal rights. Apart from having the 47 women in the Senate, we will still have the 47 elected in the National assembly. On gender, I also have an issue with the sunset clause of 15 years in the gender rule. What happens in 2037 when the sunset comes and we have not achieved the equity? Would we, as women, start the struggle afresh? I think that clause should be amended to remove the sunset, so that we have gender equity in governance play itself out without capping it to a certain number of years. 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."
}