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{
    "id": 1279063,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1279063/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 120,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Laikipia County, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Jane Kagiri",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, I stand on a point of order on the constitutionality of the Marriage (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.32 of 2023). I stand on the rostrum of Standing Order 83, read together with Standing Order 47. You have previously ruled that it is in order for us to challenge a Bill at any stage. Hon. Speaker, I am seeking guidance on three issues with regard to this Bill. The first regards Article 45 of the Constitution that provides that the family is the natural and fundamental unit of society and the necessary basis of social order in our country. Hon. Speaker, when we have a marriage amendment Bill that is going to allow dissolution of marriages after one year or based on mutual consent, I think that is an affront on our Constitution. It is something that we should not allow. Secondly, Section 66 of the Marriage Act provides that, for partners in a civil marriage to seek separation or divorce, it can only be done after the lapse of three years. Again, the Hon. Member has not amended this Act for him to present this to the House. Thirdly, we have the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011. If you allow such an amendment, we are allowing fictitious marriages in this country where foreigners will walk in, cheat our young and beautiful ladies to agree to marriages and the foreigners eventually exit after they have achieved the citizenship they seek."
}