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{
    "id": 1193764,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1193764/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 111,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Beth Syengo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order 52(1) to make a Statement on an issue of general topical concern namely, the actualization of the not more than two-thirds gender rule. Article 27 (8) of Kenya’s Constitution, 2010 provides for legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender. Ten years later, after numerous attempts, the government still has not adopted legislation to fully implement this Constitutional requirement. At the core of the Constitution of Kenya, is the belief that there can only be real progress in society if all citizens participate fully in their governance, and that all, male and female, persons with disabilities, marginalized and excluded groups are included in the affairs of the Republic. It is important to note that the drafters of the Constitution took to account the barriers faced by women stemming from historical and cultural injustices that excluded them from fully participating in the politics of their nation. The struggle to introduce more women in Parliament in Kenya can be traced back to 1996 when the hon. Charity Ngilu moved a motion for more women to be nominated. However, it was not successful. In 1997, hon. Phoebe Asiyo tabled the first Affirmative Action Bill in Parliament, but it failed. Despite the failure, this created an opportunity for other female Members of Parliament to demand for an increase in the number of women in Parliament. The hon. Martha Karua tabled the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill in 2007 on affirmative action that aimed at creating fifty seats for women in the 10th Parliament. She defended the creation of fifty special seats as an affirmative action issue, which sought to put women’s representation in Parliament at par with their population size. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Parliament’s inaction on ensuring Article 27(8) is implemented could be largely explained by its poor performance on the not more than two-thirds gender principle. Even the Chief Justice advised the President to dissolve Parliament in line with Article 261(7) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Parliament immediately went to court and obtained orders barring dissolution of Parliament until the issues raised in the Petition were heard and determined. The court gave an order of mandamus directing Parliament to take steps to ensure that the required legislation is enacted within a period of sixty days. Up to now, Parliament is still lagging behind since no legislation has been enacted. This means that the not more than two-thirds gender rule still lacks legislation on the method of implementation. The fight to introduce more women in Parliament finally bore fruit as the Kenyan Constitution, 2010 represented a legal framework for gender equality. Another milestone is the election of women legislators elected into single member constituencies. In this"
}