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{
    "id": 1513395,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1513395/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 446,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba North, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Millie Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Nothing is quite out of order, but I want to raise an issue in relation to the Orders of the day. I am raising this matter so that Members are informed before we move on to the next business. Order No.15 is on the Committee of the whole House. The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (National Assembly Bill No.61 of 2022) by Hon. Millie Odhiambo is listed as the third Bill for consideration in the Committee of the whole House. I have been alerted by the Clerk of the Departmental Committee on Health that the Chairperson and the Vice- Chairperson of the Committee are not available. I have asked Members of the Committee who are present and they have all said that they do not have instructions to execute that business. I and other Members who had amendments are here. Because of that situation, that Order is not likely to take off. If I were to leave the chamber, I want it to go on record that I was here so that there is no misinformation. The Bill was referred to the Departmental Committee on Health for winnowing in April this year, which was several months ago. I was available for every Committee meeting when the Members were winnowing the Bill. I was in agreement with two other Members, namely, Hon. Irene Mayaka and Hon. Shakeel Shabbir. Hon. Kaluma and I disagreed on several points in relation to the Bill. We agreed on some aspects of the Bill, but did not agree on a few fundamental areas. On the last two occasions that I met with the Committee, Hon. Kaluma was not available. The Committee extensively canvassed the Bill and agreed that it should come to the House for consideration. One cannot winnow forever. I only disagreed with Hon. Kaluma on some issues. The Committee and I were in complete agreement. Members of the House will have to make a decision either for or against the Bill. That is why it was moved. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am raising this issue because earlier on, Hon. Kaluma seemed to infer that I had insisted on moving the Bill. I indicated that the Bill had been before the House since April. The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill is not about how Jesus Christ will come to save the world because it would be okay for such a Bill to be stuck in the Committee for four years. This is a Bill on assisted reproduction which will help a segment of the society that does not have children like me. It does not touch on everybody. It is wrong for me to feel frustrated by the House. I will give an example. The Bill is currently listed for consideration on the Order Paper, but two other Private Members’ Bills are listed before it. I support both Bills. However, if it is an issue of seniority, those Members are younger than me. Why are their Bills being considered before mine? If it is an issue of procedure, a Bill which is already being considered takes precedence. Why is my Bill listed third? I may be forced to infer issues that I do not want to in my frustration. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am Whip of the Minority Party. As the Whip of the Minority Party, I try to be a good girl. However, the bad girl fire in me still burns and it will come out if we continue. I do not like the filibustering and gatekeeping I am seeing in relation to my Bill."
}