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{
    "id": 486708,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/486708/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 402,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Speaker. A few weeks ago, I saw a story that brought tears to my eyes. There was a young student in Nairobi who had gone to school but one of the neighbours came to school and said that the boy was playing at his house the previous day and took his phone. This was a Standard Six child. The child’s mother was called to school and in the process told the child,“ Ni sawa, but you will see when you come home.” When the boy went home, the mother closed all doors, tied his hands, poured kerosene on his hands and lit them. I think some of you saw that story. That child was taken to hospital and he could not write. He cannot use his hands again. When we were taking that child to hospital, the mobile phone was found in the neighbour’s house. I am shocked to hear hon. Members saying that issues of domestic violence differ from tribe to tribe. I challenge any hon. Member to tell me in which tribe in this country violence is acceptable. In which religion or county is that acceptable? That is why and for other many other reasons, I want to say that I fully and reservedly support this Bill. Hon. Speaker, I would like to really appeal to my colleagues, especially the male colleagues. Whenever we see a Bill such as this, our default position is that it is them versus us. In many cases, this does not need to take positions. This is one of those Bills where we must be very objective. The domestic setting affects everybody. It affects husbands, wives, children and grandparents. For us to provide that we want to have domestic settings that are conducive for the well being of everyone in society, is the noblest thing to do. Hon. Speaker, the strength of a country and the respect of an institution such as this Parliament is not in the strength of our military or economy; it is in what those who are in positions do; those who are in leadership can do to take care of the vulnerable and those who cannot speak for themselves. I know and understand that many hon. Members are saying that things should be natural and we do not need to legislate. Many of you are coming from very normal settings. But take a drive in Nairobi and go to the slums. The amount of violence in the slums is overwhelming. The self esteem of the children who are coming from such places because of the frustrations and the violence is shocking. In the United States of America, a survey was done and found that those who confessed to have grown up in very violent settings are many and it provides a ripple effect. That is why I want to say that let us look at this Bill objectively. Let us look at it proactively and pragmatically and say, yes, there are issues that need to be looked at, but a blanket disposal of such legislation, honestly, what do Kenyans who are suffering see? If you drive three kilometres, west of where we are and stop at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital, even a man like Jimmy Angwenyi, my good friend, will shed a tear. You will cry because the vulnerable in our society are not being protected. This The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}