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{
"id": 1270142,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1270142/?format=api",
"text_counter": 230,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wakili Sigei",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "During the period under reference, the Committee had 25 Sittings, at which it considered various legislative Proposals, Bills, Statements and held stakeholder engagements as set out below. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee conducted pre-publication scrutiny of four legislative proposals which were referred to the Committee pursuant to Standing Order No. 130(3)(a) of the Senate Standing Orders. (i) Draft Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Amendment Bills, 2023, sponsored by Sen. Osotsi. (ii) The draft Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill, 2023, sponsored by Sen. Crystal Asige. (iii) The draft County Government Amendment Bills, 2023, sponsored by Sen. Crystal Asige. (iv) The draft Election Amendment Bills, 2023, sponsored by Sen. Kinyua. In considering the Legislative Proposals, the Committee held discussions with the respective sponsors and considered the legislation and practice in comparative jurisdictions. Subsequently, the comments and recommendations of the Committee were submitted to the Hon. Speaker of the Senate, pursuant to Standing Order No.133 (a) This is a process of work in progress where the Bills will be placed before the House upon publication for further processing. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee commenced consideration of one Bill, namely, the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bills, (Senate Bills No. 15 of 2023), following its introduction in the Senate on 4th May, 2023. Being a Bill to amend the Constitution, the Committee has a timeframe of 90 days within which to conduct public participation and table its report in the Senate. In considering the Bill, the Committee observed that there have been 12 attempts previously made during the previous terms of Parliament towards enacting legislation on the two-thirds gender principal. Seven of these attempts were through constitutional amendment bills, all of which failed to garner the required thresholds to pass the Second Reading stage. The current Bill is therefore the 13th legislative attempt towards realizing the two-thirds gender principle in Parliament. That being the case, and noting the need to secure broad-based support across the Floor in both Houses, the Committee resolved to nominate Sen. Veronica Maina to the Multi-Agency Working Group on the two-thirds gender rule, and to further request for the inclusion of Sen. Beth Syengo, the sponsor of the Bill, as a Member of the working group. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am happy to inform this House that the working group has held several meetings with the objective of building consensus on a framework and Bill to implement the two-thirds principle. As a Committee, we await the outcome of this process, which will then inform the recommendations that we will be presenting to the House regarding the Bill for further processing."
}