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{
    "id": 1555588,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555588/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 448,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana MGH",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, many years ago, when I was in class seven, a very strange happening took place. I was in Arap Moi Primary School, Ngao. Those days, the classrooms had very large windows, which were not covered. So, you could jump out or into the classroom. There were no doors. That is the school I went to from standard five to seven. Of course, it is much better now. Madam Temporary Speaker, the strange happening was that we were in class and then we were about to go for a break. One of the very bright girls just stepped on one of the desks and jumped out of the window. I never understood what was happening. Most of the boys at that age, did not know what was happening. Many years later, I came to understand that the young girl then was having her periods. In our custom those days, it was very, very secretive thing. Men or boys like us were not supposed to know what was happening and men were not supposed to discuss what was happening. It was a secret thing because you were told that there are things that girls go through that you are not supposed to know. There was a custom of secrecy around it. Little did I know many years later, that custom of secrecy in Tana River County in those days was a custom of oppression for our young girls; our young daughters. It was kept so secret that the girls were supposed to miss school, go and hide, three, four days later they would appear. We also did not know what was happening as boys. Today I stand to support this Bill because when I came to understand what was happening, I told myself that when I grow up and God gives me daughters, it will never happen that they would be ashamed of what God has so graciously given them. Madam Temporary Speaker, my wife and I have made it a custom that all those wonderful girls that God has given us, every one of them who we say, ‘has started’--- in Kiswahili we say, amevunja viungo--- we would take her out and sit with her for a beautiful dinner and tell her, ‘Mommy, God makes you more beautiful as you grow up’. Because the mum would give me the information. I tell them that ‘what has happened to you means, God is making you more beautiful. Your hair will grow longer, look prettier, The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}