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{
    "id": 110729,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/110729/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 419,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. M’Mithiaru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 72,
        "legal_name": "Ntoitha M'mithiaru",
        "slug": "ntoitha-mmithiaru"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is on this score that I would say that the start of this Constitution may be likened to what the Americans called the bell of liberty. This is our bell of liberty and we must ensure that we give Kenyans the best. If we have to give Kenyans the best, then also we must not allow any loophole or mistake to pass under our watch. In the area of representation, Article 126, the National Assembly will consist of elected Members of Parliament, 47 special seats for women, 12 Nominated Members of Parliament and the Speaker. That requires an amendment. With due respect to our ladies, the ladies today in Kenya are so informed that we do not really need to entrench an affirmative action in the Constitution for this. In any case, affirmative action is not a principle of Constitution making, because the Constitution itself presupposes that everybody is equal. To affirm that further in the Constitution is like creating two worlds. So, if there is any affirmative action, it must be a creature of an Act of Parliament but not the Constitution. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have my own daughter who has done examinations and she has beaten all the boys in her class in Form Four. She got grades “A” in all subjects. If that is so, we cannot now say we create a constituency where women will be competing alone. No. In fact, they have more brains than men. So, why do they go to that subdued level? They are beyond that. If they are beyond that then, what I am saying is that I will be bringing an amendment to that particular Article to ensure that we give women a nice level playing ground to compete effectively with men. This has even been proven in this House. It has been proved that in Kenya women got liberty long time ago. If I may go down the history lane, in Central Province, we used to have a lady leader called Wangu wa Makeri. It was that long time ago. In the Rift Valley, even before Beijing, we had hon. Chelagat Mutai who was a Member of Parliament. In Meru we had a lady called Elnina Karimi, in early 1970s before Beijing. In Kisumu, we had the first lady who is Grace Onyango, that early. So, we are not saying that our women are not there. They are already in the know. They are already in the race and they are able and capable to properly compete with men. Should I now tell my daughter who is beating all the boys; now, you are a lesser being, you can compete with ladies only”? No. This is not a race where we have ladies only or high jump to have ladies only. This is a political race where ladies are properly endowed even to be the President of this country. They should play their role at that level."
}