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{
    "id": 5000,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/5000/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 881,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Chairlady, it is only through lobbying and advocacy that Kenya got its way. What this law seeks to do is not to leave this work to activists but to provide a process through which the activists and every person who may oppose any law has the opportunity to participate and be involved in this process. As persons who are supporting the Constitution, we made a promise to the ones who were opposing it that we would take action to redress some of the things they were not happy with. This law is one of the initiatives that we seek to ensure that we, as Members of Parliament, redress some of the issues that the ones who were opposed to the Constitution were not happy with. I want to indicate that there are many conventions that Kenya has ratified that are of importance, both in the environmental field and in the human rights field. I want to give the example of the Convention on Bio-Diversity, the Vienna Convention on Treaties, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on Elimination of all forms of discrimination Against Women, among several others. Fortunately, most of these conventions are very favourable because they provide progressive rights, most of which are already mirrored in our Constitution. I would like to say that what this law, therefore, provides is that as per the effective dates, the treaties that were ratified will not necessarily come through this process but this law will take effect now onwards. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to highlight what this law provides. The law is divided into four parts. Part I the preliminary and it gives a short title, interpretation and application. Part II is the ratification of treaties and it covers approval by Cabinet, consideration by Parliament and under Clause 6, approval for ratification. Clause 7 is on ratification of the treaty and the granting of full powers and provides for offences under this law for persons who may ratify the treaty without Parliamentary approval. Under Part IV, it provides for the establishment of the Registry of Treaties and also establishes the Office of the Registrar of Treaties who would be a person who is conversant with international law and International Relations. Part IV is on general provisions and also says that the public shall be made aware of the treaties that will be ratified in compliance with the Constitution that talks about public participation. Under Clause 13, it provides for reporting in compliance with the terms of the treaties, denunciation of certain treaties and for general rules. Since this Bill came up, we have received several memoranda and had several discussions with members of the public, with organized groups and even with different Ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They have proposed several amendments and I want to speak---"
}