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{
    "id": 1384892,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1384892/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 858,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Rangwe, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Lilian Gogo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for allowing me to add my voice to these legislative proposals. This is a very important matter which is affecting Kenyans. If we have protected constituencies, there is no way we can think of removing them. I rise to support that protected constituencies should remain as such on the very basis of service to our vision of adequate representation, oversight and legislation. This is the main agenda of Parliament. If these constituencies were created on a given population, time has since passed to the extent that in this period… You know the way Kenyan women are good at giving birth. I know they have done an exceedingly good job of populating these areas. To the extent, that if we review the population at this time, we will get the desired population to maintain them. In any case, we need more constituencies. So, that even if they are above 290, we secure certain constituencies to be set aside for women only so that we end the struggle over the two-thirds gender parity. Also, based on that when it comes to the electoral system, we want constituencies designated to be represented by young people only and others by people with disabilities. This is the case so that designated parties with strong following in those areas can be invoked to choose those preference groups so as to have proper representation as required. I support that constituencies that are protected should remain as so, if possible. The time to re-look and rethink new boundaries has already come. If IEBC was properly constituted as it should be, then we should have protected constituencies remain as such. More so, we should have more constituencies created based on population and any other grading. I have also heard my colleagues speak about Banissa Constituency which has not had a representative for one year; from March to March. This is very unfortunate. Honestly, it is discriminatory, unconstitutional and pathetic. It is important that we stand with fellow Kenyans from this constituency. They must get a representative by going through a process where they can choose a leader to represent them in the National Assembly. This should be expedited. There should be an alternative, if there is no IEBC to conduct elections or it is not properly constituted. We should have a constitutional provision that allows an alternative body to conduct elections, in specific and unique cases. If for whatever reason IEBC cannot be properly constituted, then we should have a constitutional amendment to allow an alternative body to conduct elections so that we do not discriminate. I want to say this is basic discrimination because we do not want Kenyans put in a position where they do not have a representative. I have been told that bursaries cannot be given, in as much as there is a committee to do so. They just want to have a leader like other Kenyans. I stand to support my colleague on the matter that this constituency should have its representative in the National Assembly. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me time."
}