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{
    "id": 186337,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/186337/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 245,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Noor",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 375,
        "legal_name": "Sophia Abdi Noor",
        "slug": "sophia-noor"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. The pain of Constitution- making is very fresh in our minds. This time round, we must give Kenyans the Constitution they deserve. The Tenth Parliament has an opportunity as every other speaker has said. It has the responsibility of taking the lead role in the Constitution-making process. Kenyans have a big dream and a vision. It is only wise for us to make that dream come true so that they can realise what they have been looking for, for all those years. The pain of Constitution-making is something that we have all gone through. Kenyans have lost relatives and property. They have lost dearly in the Constitution-making process. Kenyans invested heavily in the Bomas of Kenya Draft Constitution. So, I am proposing that the forum for giving views must be limited. Since we have all the information that is required from every Kenyan--- Every Kenyan, in one way or the other, has contributed to the process. They have given their views, ideas and suggestions with regard to how they want to be governed in this country. They have proposed the justice system that they require. August 6, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2421 Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Parliamentary Select Committee should be gender balanced. We must be very sensitive so as to involve every person in the process, particularly when we are selecting the Committee in this House. We must be very sensitive. The formation of Committees in this House has been very blind to gender issues. This time round, since Constitution-making process is such a good thing and it demands a lot, every interest of the two genders must be taken into consideration. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Committee of Experts must also be gender balanced and show the face of Kenya. I am proposing eight Kenyan citizens to form the Committee of Experts. Why have I come up with that proposal? As alluded to, we have had a very expensive process. The Bomas process was very expensive. Now that we want to accommodate the regional interests of this country, the membership of the Committee of Experts must have regional balance. So, we must have eight people in the Committee. In the process of filling vacancies of the Committee of Experts, the President must appoint people as per the ranking given to him by Parliament. Clause 39(3) says: \"The petitioner shall within seven days after the petition is made deposit two million shillings with the court as security against costs.\" That is too expensive for a common Kenyan who has a stake in the constitution-making process, to afford. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, since every Kenyan has a stake in the constitution- making process, providing for such a huge amount of money as a condition for filing a petition, is very inhibitive for Kenyan communities to participate in the process, which they have been looking forward to for a long time. I, therefore, propose that this figure be reduced to about Kshs500,000. In the First Schedule, part (4), says: \"The Parliamentary Select Committee shall rank and provide comments regarding each nominee to the National Assembly.\" How many people shall this Committee present to Parliament? That aspect is not clear. We must be clear and agree on the number. So, we should be very clear as to how many people the Select Committee should present to the House. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, as I earlier said, I propose that the Select Committee should nominate 14 people for presentation to the House. Parliament should forward eight names to the President. Thereafter, the President should gazette those names. Kenyans need workable social justice systems and structures put in place. I would like to conclude by saying that the governance structure that Kenyans need is one which will appreciate and give services and justice to Kenyans. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}