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{
    "id": 486101,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/486101/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 222,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. F.K. Wanyonyi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2065,
        "legal_name": "Ferdinard Kevin Wanyonyi",
        "slug": "ferdinard-kevin-wanyonyi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Speaker for this opportunity. I want to take this opportunity to speak as a parent. I quite agree that the Bill gives us opportunity to get some of the issues right. I know there are areas where there is need for us to make some amendments when it comes to the Third Reading. Basically, this is a good Bill. First, it is very real, basic and deals with day to day issues that we should not start pointing fingers at each other. In the meaning of “domestic violence”, we have quite a number of issues which we will put in the amendments. There is, for example, the issue of child marriages. We have had very many cases where children are forced to marry by greedy parents because they want wealth. I have had cases where as a Member of Parliament, I had to intervene because a parent wanted to get money to educate the other children. So, he was forcing the child to get married. This Bill is providing for that. It provides shelter for such victims. These are careless and greedy parents who want to destroy the lives of their children. Secondly, there is mention of damage of properties. This is also basic. I have witnessed a case where a lady destroyed a vehicle of a would-be fiancé out of jealous. She heard that the man was going to marry somebody else and set his vehicle and house on fire. These are some of the basic things that we see around. Looking at Clause 9, it is very basic. We have witnessed and seen in newspapers where children are kept indoors because they are deformed. The parents are embarrassed and do not want to accept the child. The child is kept in the house throughout. I know of a case where neighbours had to break into the house and call the police because the parents of the child were embarrassed to have a deformed child. This Bill provides for such cases. Such offences are provided for in Clause9. Clause 12 talks about counselling. We have heard of cases where people disagree out of jealous or rumours. This Bill provides for counselling where the two can come together. The court can order for counselling by either the church or the elders in the area as far as it is satisfied that, that kind of counselling will bring the couple together. Some of them are people who have children. People have had children and because of either jealous from neighbors or rumours from those who do not like the family, you see a family disintegrating into separation. So, this Bill provides for that and that is why I say that it is timely as much as many hon. Members do not like it. But as a parent, I am for it and I support it wholeheartedly."
}