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{
    "id": 1444364,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1444364/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 174,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kavindu Muthama",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13733,
        "legal_name": "Agnes Kavindu Muthama",
        "slug": "agnes-kavindu-muthama"
    },
    "content": "Ukambani that states that whoever marries your mother is your father. That means some husbands marry wives with children from other families. Once those children come to that family, they are owned and become part and parcel of that family. On death, they inherit your property, just like the biological children of that family. This amendment Bill is very timely. During the public participation on the 1998 Bomb Blast, we called stakeholders to come and share their experiences with us. Some women told us that after their husbands died during the bomb blast, their in-laws chased them from their homes. To date, they have had nowhere to stay. This Bill will protect such women and their children. I take this opportunity to congratulate my friend, Sen. Veronica Maina, for coming up with this amendment Bill. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, two days ago, I was called from Kivaa, Masinga Sub-county in Machakos County. I was told that there is a Person with Disability (PWD) – a husband - who married a second wife after the death of the first wife. He married the second wife, but something happened. He sent her home with the assistance of his relatives. What saddened me is that the second wife went to court and got a court order to exhume the body of a son of that man from the land she claimed belonged to her and her ex-husband. I asked myself: “Which judge could give such an order for exhumation of a body of a son from his father’s land?” The claim is that this land should be sold and the money shared between the husband and wife. However, in that marriage, there are three wives. If we strictly follow the law, that land should be divided into three parcels and whoever wants to sell hers be allowed to do so without any hindrance. Therefore, there is no point of exhuming the body of a child so that they can sell the land. These amendments will protect vulnerable children and poor people who cannot go to court to seek justice. I think for a judge to give an order to exhume a body of a child on his father’s land is corruption at the highest level. Many hon. Senators have contributed to this amendment. I ask Sen. Veronica Maina to propose amendments to the Matrimonial Property Act because many housewives suffer a lot when it comes to divorce. In such cases, they are required to show evidence of ownership or their tangible contribution towards matrimonial property, yet in that home, they do donkeywork. They give birth, take care of their children and husbands. This is their contribution towards matrimonial property. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."
}