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{
    "id": 1067642,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1067642/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 162,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Maragwa, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Mary Njoroge",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13421,
        "legal_name": "Mary Wamaua Waithira Njoroge",
        "slug": "mary-wamaua-waithira-njoroge"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me this chance to speak to this historic moment of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020. I rise to support. I also want to commend all those Members who have risen in support of this Amendment Bill as proposed by the popular initiative. It is true that we are not looking at the contents of the amendment Bill. What is being proposed is meant to make the 2010 Constitution better than what it is now. The Articles that are being amended, it is to make the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 better. All that has been proposed here is very important for it touches on the people we represent economically, politically and in all other areas. Allow me to talk about two areas. I want to start with Clause 10 of the Draft Bill which seeks to amend Article 89. It is proposing to delete the 290 constituencies and substituting them with 360 constituencies. It brings on board 70 additional constituencies. This is an area that is demonised by those who are not in support. This will ensure a fair representation of the people in the National Assembly and also, create a balance in the sizes of our constituencies. Currently, there are extremely large constituencies which get the same resources as the small constituencies. Whenever Kenyans pay taxes, it is to support each and every person irrespective of where they come from. Last week, Hon. Kabinga Wathayo from Mwea tried to bring in the formula that was used to create the additional 70 constituencies. We want each and every vote to count in terms of representation and the sharing of resources. We are not questioning the issue of delimitation of boundaries whether it is the responsibility of IEBC. Chapter One talks of sovereign power of the people. That is why we are subjecting all these proposed amendments to a referendum. Power is bestowed on Kenyans. They are able to decrease or increase the number of constituencies. Later on, IEBC will come in to look at delimitation of boundaries. We cannot say we cannot do this when all of us understand that the whole issue will end up with Kenyans. They will then approve or not. Let us not demonise the creation of constituencies when we know that they are looking at those areas that have many people. I give an The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}