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{
    "id": 1066239,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1066239/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 205,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Seneta",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 611,
        "legal_name": "Mary Yiane Senata",
        "slug": "mary-yiane-senata"
    },
    "content": "Therefore, this is not a priority that the Senate and the National Assembly should be hurrying to debate. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also want to point out a few issues in this Bill. Where is a clause that seeks to ensure that women sit at the top level of leadership in this country if we are expanding the Executive? If the promoters of the Bill are for equity purposes, where is the clause to ensure that women will sit in the Executive? Where is the clause that will ensure that the minority tribes like the Elmolo, Ilchamus and others who do not have numbers sit in the Executive? If the promoters were genuine that they wanted equity and to address issues of equality, why do we not have a clause or an amendment within the Bill to ensure that the minority are also factored in the Executive? We could have maybe a deputy prime minister or a deputy president for that matter being given to the minority tribe. However, having gone through this Bill, I have only seen leadership coming from majority tribes and populous areas. I also have an issue with the increase of MPs. An increase in the number of MPs is an increase in the persons who will be attached to the MPs, an increase in the number of offices, an increase in the number of NG-CDF staff, an increase of the human resource that will be attached to the MPs and therefore an increased burden to the already overtaxed Kenyans. Today, not many Kenyans can afford fuel because we are already overtaxed. Therefore, an increase in the number of MPs is a burden that will face Kenyans in future. There is a proposed amendment to increase membership of the Senate but there is no clause to ensure nomination of minority tribes and representatives of PWDs. I also have an issue of increased allocations going to counties. That will make many Kenyans to think that a lot of money will be going to the counties. At the moment, county workers have been going without salaries for the past three months. If at the moment we are not able to give counties 15 per cent, where will we get 35 per cent with this kind of an economy where Kenyans can barely afford bread? I also have an issue with women representatives being moved to the Senate without a Fund. The Affirmative Action Fund, which was created for the 47 women representatives was good for women visibility, therefore helping the women to be elected for other elective seats. When you send them to the Senate without a Fund, those women will not be able to do any projects, be it social or physical development that is highly needed by our constituents. That means demeaning and making women appear like they are not able to do any kind of project. An increase in the number of women in the Senate is welcome. It is a good idea but we should capacitate the women by giving the Senate an Oversight Fund and making sure it is also in the Constitution just like the Ward Development Fund, the NG-CDF and the allocation to the counties which will be 35 per cent. It should also be in the Constitution so that it does not appear like women must always fight to get some little allocation. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I think this Bill is just an amendment seeking to create seats and giving power to those who are going to lose in elections. What we should be doing as Kenyans and as a Parliament is to strengthen our independent institutions like 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."
}