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{
    "id": 1237372,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1237372/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 135,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Thika Town, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. Finally, our decision to recommend ratification of the three conventions was not just guided by the mere fact that the other countries have ratified. We examined the convention versus the requirements of the Treaty Making and Ratification Act 2012. The Act has listed 16 requirements which guided the ratification process, including the views of the public, national interest, constitutional implications and obligations imposed on Kenya by the Treaty. These must be adhered to before a convention finds its way here and is ratified. Consequently, whereas many countries in the world have ratified this convention, I stand here to say, as a committee, we recommended ratification of the convention cognisant that it shall promote the children’s rights under Article 53 of our Constitution. I also observed there are several issues that Members noted, that may not have been included in the Hague Convention more so, the issue that the committee should have considered the three conventions separately despite the fact that they are closely related. Hon. Speaker, you know when the Chinese came to Kenya to construct the super highway, we were left with very many Chinese children. They went back to their country and right now they are Kenyan citizens. If you go to Naromoru, you will find that there are very many children born of British fathers yet the soldiers went back to their countries. Recently, I visited Canada and met a Kenyan lady who relocated with her family. The man decided to come back to Kenya and left her and their children and yet she was not working. All these treaties are saying that we should take good care of our children. I am telling men in this House not to be afraid. Maybe you went to Britain or America and left a child there, Hon. Kaluma—it is on a light note—and you are worried what the wazungu will do to you once these conventions are passed by the House. It is all about protecting children. If you are not guilty, I do not understand why you are afraid of the passing of these treaties. If you are an honest and good man, let us pass these treaties to protect our children. Furthermore, the children are your blood. 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."
}