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{
    "id": 1526448,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1526448/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 497,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ruaraka, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. TJ Kajwang’",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, I hope you will give me a few more minutes because I have listened to the veteran Member, but I have not heard her advance anything that is out of order. I wish Members could, if they rise on point of order, speak about things that are out of order and not advance debate. This is a House of debate, and any Member can put across his or her issues without interruption. The two-thirds gender rule is an interesting matter that we need to think through. Chief Justice Maraga Emeritus declared that the 12th Parliament, in which I served, was unconstitutional and that we should have been sent home. I do not know why Chief Justice Koome is taking so long to do the same for this Parliament because we will never get that formula at all. We are forcing the law to do something that is out of the ordinary. We are forcing the law to create a situation in which our mothers or fathers produce more women or girls to effect the two-thirds gender requirement. It is impossible. We cannot use the Constitution or any legislation, for that matter, to create that situation. The two-thirds gender rule can only be effected outside the law or biology. The two-thirds gender representation is only canvassed in Parliament, but what about in the civil service? What about the two-thirds gender representation in the economic sector? Why is this aberration about representation? I have a lot of respect for the distinguished Members in the House, but they did not come to legislate as women. They came as national leaders. The Member for Tharaka-Nithi County can advance all the issues affecting the women of Tharaka-Nithi County as well as those affecting the entire country. The Member for Nyeri County would espouse all the issues affecting the men of Nyeri. I know they have many issues, but I am encouraged because the Member for Nyeri County is representing them. So, these are not gender issues. These are able leaders who can raise issues of concern. I feel that the whole debate on the National Dialogue Committee is promoted more by political expediency rather than the need for law. I wish we could all go home, not for a general election, but for a referendum on this women thing. We will be surprised by the verdict that Kenyans will return on the issue of women representation. I wish the Chairperson of the Committee would propose that we go on referendum on this issue and try it afresh. We may find that the Constitution would be altered in such a manner that we will never believe. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}