HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 443156,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/443156/?format=api",
"text_counter": 140,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "solve the disputes that were coming to the tribunal. Consequently, it meant that the gazettement of these lists took place much later in the year. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I agree with most of the Members that we need to get a guide to these nominations. We need to make it very clear that we are able to give a clear way. This is because as you realize, even after saying that we needed to prepare the lists 45 days prior to the elections, we still did not have a clear criteria. If that can be streamlined, and I know that I will be working to actually look at those electoral laws, including the Elections Act and the Political Parties Act, we will set clear criteria for nomination, taking on board what has been said on this Floor. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I look at affirmative action as a corrective measure. I like using football as an analogy. For example, right now, the World Cup tournament is going on in Brazil. It is quite something when you talk about it. I am not very tall; I am about 5’1’ or 5’2.’ So, when there is a game going on in Kasarani and you are taller than me, if there is one crate for stepping on, it is me who should step on that crate and not you. We have had a majority of Members in this country having the advantage of being elected to office and that we have more men being elected to office, as has been demonstrated by the statistics. It is, therefore, time for us to give that head start to these marginalized groups; it is incumbent upon us to give crates to these Members to step on. The people living with disabilities can now look upon us and see that they have representation in the counties, in the National Assembly and in the Senate. If we cannot give them this chance, then we will be failing. This is the first Senate under this Constitution. Therefore, we, as Senate, must streamline these laws so that these lacunas that were there when we did the elections last year can be avoided. Unless we do that, we will still be having a problem. I know that people have made very interesting scenarios; I have heard people even argue in the media and in other fora, especially when we were debating the wage bill. I have heard people talk of very simplistic ways, for example, they have asked “why do we need these positions, right from the Senate, to the county assemblies, to the National Assembly?” Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when I talk to young girls and young women, I tell them “even if for no other reason, the fact that I can stand here and talk in this House should be a reason enough to encourage and motivate you” because sometimes that is all they need to see and hear. They need to know that a person living with disability can be given a position which can touch on their lives. We cannot achieve that if we only give these positions with no portfolio; that will be crippling them even before they even start. If we can correct that, then as a Senator who has sat in the first Senate under this Constitution, I will be able to hold my head up high and say that I did the job that I was given to do and we will all be proud. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not want to add so much because a lot has been said. I just want to conclude by saying that we, as a Senate, will be judged very harshly by history if we do not correct these anomalies. It is our responsibility and our constitutional duty to actually make sure that we streamline devolution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have also seen a petition coming from the same Kiambu County Assembly moving that they do not want nominated Members or the Members who were elected through the party lists to even have a voting right. I know that this issue is before a Committee in this House. Therefore, I will not dwell on it much."
}