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{
    "id": 208880,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/208880/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 314,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 166,
        "legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
        "slug": "martha-karua"
    },
    "content": " If the hon. Member has such details, let him rise and contribute and not put words in my mouth. I am saying that since Independence, the constituencies review has never been preceded by talks in the House but always by consultations with the people of Kenya by the ECK. That is my knowledge through my research from extracts of the HANSARD since Independence. The only time that this House has enacted constitutional review with consultations which had nothing to do with constituencies, was in 1997 when we included the Clause for gender parity as a result of which, we have eight nominated women Members of Parliament. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on the issue of minimum reforms, review of constituencies is not an issue of minimum reforms, it is a duty of the Government of the day. It is a constitutional obligation on the ECK to report to the Government of the day, then the Government tables a Bill. It is becoming increasingly fashionable for certain Members of Committees of this House, to try and assume the role of the Executive. Presenting a Bill after the recommendation of the ECK is the work of the Government of the day and we are here discharging our obligation. If hon. Members find that they do not want Affirmative Action, let them not find excuses. Mr. Speaker, Sir, regarding the constitutional review talks, the Government has its representatives and I as a person do not have to be there, if I do not wish to be. The rest of the team is there and nothing stops them from meeting even now. This Bill does not stop the constitutional review talks nor does it preclude the minimum reforms talks. However, it would be outside the ambit of the constitutional review talks to talk about constituencies because that is the work solely vested in the ECK. Time for excuses is gone, let---"
}