Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 251027,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/251027/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 236,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kosgey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 177,
        "legal_name": "Henry Kiprono Kosgey",
        "slug": "henry-kosgey"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. The other day when the Mover moved her Motion to introduce this Bill, we supported it because at that time there were rampant cases of rape, particularly of children. Every other day we see it on television. It has actually hurt some of us. It is about time that deterrent sentences were meted out on these rapists. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when the Bill now being debated was introduced to the House, we found out that it encompassed quite a lot of other areas dealing with this crime of sexual offences and we all support it. Those of us who are quite progressive support it but those who are male chauvinists and conservatives oppose it. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the punishment meted out for rape, sexual assault, indecent exposure and defilement particularly of children is still very lenient, in my opinion. Being 832 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES May 2, 2006 sentenced to ten years for rape is still very lenient. We would have expected one to be sentenced for life. Similarly, being sentenced for five years for sexaul assault or defilement is lenient. A person who defiles a child less than 11 years is handed life imprisonment but one who defiles a one-year old child is handed a 15 to 20 year sentence. It should be life imprisonment and not a 20 year sentence. I hope at the Committee Stage we can amend it to provide for life sentences for all those people who defile minors. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I said, this Bill is for this century and there is no conflict between this Bill and our traditional customary law. In fact, in the Kalenjin society a rapist was regarded as a deranged person and nobody was to go near him. So, this Bill is in conformity with our customary law."
}