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"id": 237742,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/237742/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mrs. Chelaite",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services",
"speaker": {
"id": 346,
"legal_name": "Alicen Jematia Ronoh Chelaite",
"slug": "alicen-chelaite"
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"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to start my response by thanking all those who have contributed and supported the debate on this Sessional Paper. I would like to assure the House that all the suggestions given by hon. Members will be taken into consideration. This Sessional Paper will provide a strong basis for the implementation of the gender responsive policies, programmes, projects and activities. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my Ministry would like to appreciate the Presidential directive on Kenyatta Day, that the Public Service Commission should apply affirmative action in all future recruitment of staff and other appointments by ensuring that a minimum of 30 per cent of October 26, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3213 appointees are women. The directive is in line with the provision of the gender policy. The approval of this Sessional Paper will enable the Government to sensitise all the stakeholders from both the public and private sector organisations, as well as civil society on the new gender policy. The Ministry will also be able to launch a massive civic education exercise to educate men on gender issues, particularly, on culture and traditions. Further, the adoption of this Sessional Paper will enable the Ministry to develop a national plan of action for implementation of the policy contained therein. A wide range of sector planners, implementers and other stakeholders will be involved in the process. The national plan of action will facilitate gender mainstreaming in all sectors. It will also have a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to monitor progress towards gender mainstreaming. The national plan will also be disseminated to all stakeholders, so that they can start prioritising gender responsive programmes and projects for implementation. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this document will provide a framework for guiding gender mainstreaming and linkage with other Government policies. It will also address the political, legal, social, cultural and historical conditions, which enhance gender-based poverty. This Sessional Paper will also ensure political participation and decision making through strengthening of institutional structures and mechanisms in order to achieve gender balance composition. The Sessional Paper will put in place measures aimed at maintaining peace and security. It will also allow implementation of issues regarding vulnerable persons such as children, persons with disabilities, pastoralists and old persons. The document will also enable the Ministry bring a Bill on affirmative action as directed by His Excellency the President on Kenyatta Day. I would like to inform the House that the Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services has organised a conference to review the achievements made and challenges faced since 1985 when the UN sponsored Women Decade Conference was held, which recommended the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies Conference, to be held tomorrow at the KICC. You are all welcome. The conference will be graced by many women ladies from within and abroad. In the course of implementing this policy, the Ministry will prioritise women empowerment. We will advocate for the creation of a women's enterprise fund, which will enable women to access financial assistance. I hope that the Minister for Finance, who is present and listening, will facilitate the creation of the fund, so that women can be financially empowered. We also expect the current Parliament to be the change agent on gender responsive issues in this country. For a long time, women have been marginalised because of cultural issues. The Sessional Paper will also ensure mobilization of adequate resources from all sectors, including the NGO sector, the private sector and development partners. With those remarks, I beg to move."
}