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{
    "id": 1211510,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1211510/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 220,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marsabit County, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Naomi Waqo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I also support the issue of cabinet secretaries appearing before the Members of Parliament. Right now, there may be a gap between us and cabinet secretaries simply because some of them are not well-known to the Members of Parliament. During the vetting process, cabinet secretaries appear before their respective committees, but are not known to everybody. By them appearing before the Members, we will create a good working relationship, talk to one another, have dialogue, discuss issues that affect our country and also challenge them on the Floor of the House. That will then enhance the relationship between Parliament and cabinet secretaries. It will help us and even the cabinet secretaries to be more effective. Representation of the people will be done well. From the conversations that go on, debates and questions raised, the people we serve will see that their areas are well-represented and their questions are answered well unlike when some cabinet secretaries are not even known by the Members of Parliament. On the position of the leader of the official opposition, since Independence, we have enjoyed serving this great nation that we all love. Since we started practising multipartyism, leaders of opposition have always suffered because they use their money to campaign and immediately after the elections, they are forgotten. By having this position, we will have a special place for them to have their own office and they will be kept busy. We are currently experiencing a challenge because the opposition leader, Hon. Raila, is busy on the streets holding rallies and meetings with people. If this office is created, he will have a better place to meet people, organise and serve the nation in a better way. Having a place for the opposition leader in Parliament is good and we need to accept and move on with it. We know very well that where there is no vision, people perish. If we continue the way we are, we may not get anywhere. Allowing, embracing and giving them the opportunity to serve the country better by challenging our Government and other governments in future will be a good thing to practise. I want to mention something on the issue of the two-thirds gender rule. This is something that we have been fighting and praying for as women leaders. Today, it is us, but tomorrow or ten years down the line, you do not know. Maybe we will be sympathising with the male gender. When we first started the debate of the two-thirds gender rule, we thought that many people were supporting us. In fact, in the 12th Parliament, Hon. Duale was very passionate together with many other Members of Parliament. They were very passionate. They tried to support us. We had many breakfasts, but at the end of the day, we did not succeed. If our President is the one to now initiate the entire process, as women leaders, we should just run with the whole idea and see how best we can capture and grab the opportunity and succeed because it is long overdue."
}