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{
    "id": 251002,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/251002/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 211,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Anyang'-Nyong'o",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 193,
        "legal_name": "Peter Anyang' Nyong'o",
        "slug": "peter-nyongo"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in rape cases, and I am sure my lawyer colleagues will testify to this, the kind of evidence given to court by those who defend rape offenders, is quite astounding. I have read the East African Law Reports on these cases and it is pathetic. It shows that either they know that there is no good law that will defend rape victims and defend their rights or they know 826 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES May 2, 2006 that there is no institution in our nation that is given the responsibility of educating law enforcement agencies as far as sexual offences and sexual assault are concerned. It is high time a law like this came into being so that we can confront this malady in our nation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when the drafters of this Bill thought in their own wisdom, because there has been such travesty in the law courts, police stations, the burden of proof should be on the accused, it was not because they were trying to go against the Constitution. I would like to submit that it is their frustration with the system that drove them that far. In order to deal with that frustration, let us listen very carefully to our lawyers in this House. Let us amend that particular Clause in this Bill and put it right, so that for the first time in the life of our nation, we shall make every Kenyan a full citizen, be they male or female, and make every Kenyan truly equal within the law. Let us not live with this thing as something bothering our consciousness as we go to the grave. I say this because, sooner or later, we shall be in the grave, and when we go up there with St. Peter and Jesus Christ questioning us, \"why did you leave our women and children to be tormented by rapists and sexual assaulters,\" there is very little we shall say, because we were provided with an occasion to correct it in this House, but we did not rise up to it. I am pleading with the hon. Members, that we do, indeed, understand the weaknesses in this Bill, but it is upon us to make the necessary amendments, and when the Ninth Parliament finishes its term, we can be proud to say to the people of Kenya and the world that we rose up to the occasion and passed a law which will stand the test of time and will promote the dignity of our children and our women and men for an indefinite time. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}