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{
    "id": 1197355,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1197355/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 241,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Silvanus Osoro (",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "In the first paragraph of this Report, in accordance with Article 78(1) and (2) of the Constitution, the nominee is eligible for appointment to State office since she is a Kenyan citizen born on 7th March 1974 in Kitui County and does not hold dual citizenship. Sorry, it is Hon. Temporary Speaker now in the Chair. It is so that I do not also find myself in a similar challenge that Peninah found herself in. What this implies then is that there is another parameter that the Committee used to come up with their rejection Report. In my presumption, the Committee used the very short events during vetting to define her suitability. They are telling us that by her mere presentation, which possibly took about 90 minutes, she could not be able to answer adequate questions as asked by the Committee. This is not the right parameter to use when rejecting a nominee. If the nominee has been cleared by all relevant authorities and statutory bodies, then you cannot use a singular event to define one’s suitability or unsuitability. The nominee has once served as a Deputy Governor of Kitui County for five years. This House has no report about her integrity or any petition that might have been filed by the voters of Kitui County when she served. What parameter did the Committee use to reject her? Is it because she is a woman? Is it because she did not have people in that Committee to defend her? Is it because she is a widow? Is it because she only has one child? Is it because she does not have enough money? Hon. Temporary Speaker, I call upon this House to overturn the recommendation by this Committee and approve Ms. Peninah Malonza. We all understand when some of our Members here in this House refer to a female Speaker in the Chair as “Madam Speaker Sir.” Does that define their suitability or unsuitability to serve as Members of Parliament in their constituencies? It is normal for one to experience stage fright. It is a singular event. We understand the Committee might have looked at how she expressed herself. Not every person is an actor. Not every person is able to speak before cameras. She knew that she was live on ttelevision and it is normal for any person to have anxiety. It is normal to develop some stage fright and, at least, get scared especially when you have people like Hon. Junet looking at you straight in the eye. She might have got scared because she is used to seeing Hon. Junet on ttelevision asking tough questions and stuff like that. It is normal. We cannot use that singular event to deny the women of this country an opportunity to serve. His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya at one point during campaign committed to have a sizeable number of women serving in his Cabinet. This was a good display. Please, do not deny women a chance to serve in this country. There is no parameter that has been used. And by the way, this Committee on Appointments, while we support part of your recommendations, we want you to use similar parameters you used on Hon. Aisha Jumwa and Hon. Lithika Linturi on Ms. Peninah Malonza. It is very important for me to say that we do not want to allow this House…"
}