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"id": 600643,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Elachi",
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"legal_name": "Beatrice Elachi",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, from the outset, I thank our Chairperson of KEWOSA and Members of KEWOPA for the spirited campaign they have put to ensure that the issue of the two-thirds gender representation is realised. We looked at what the IPU proposed and followed the processes ever since we started the Constitution making process in our country. After the Bomas Draft Constitution, we thought that the women of Kenya had won, but we realised later that we had actually lost. The Committee of Experts followed up the process, safeguarding the gains at that time. We ended up with a Constitution that did not provide a clear formula on the issue of the two-thirds gender representation in both the National Assembly and the Senate. The Senate came up with a formula, but we still need to work on it. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we are still in the process of coming up with a formula on that. I thank the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly because very soon, the Bill will move to the Second Reading. I know that it is with the Chairman of the Committee on Justice, hon. Chepkonga. We, as women of this country, have been pleading with him and I still plead with him today on the Floor of the Senate. I know that he will listen and consult with many stakeholders who have been supporting us. However, we should know that it is unfortunate that it is 80 per cent of one gender that do the most informal jobs in this country. They are in the agricultural sector and make it to thrive and ensure that the economy of this country grows. However, when it comes to any political decision making, every man in this country raises an eyebrow and asks why women are invading their space. In gender equity, both men and women should work together to achieve development. Today, the challenges we face 50 years down the line is that we have left our country to our husbands and sons. The country is suffering because we left one hand behind. The country moves whenever we sit together on a table. We suffer whenever one is on the table and the other one is not. When it comes to political, economic and financial fights, it is the woman who suffers. Even if it is the woman who is bankrolling and ensuring that her family is thriving, when the time comes for her to sit at the table with the family to discuss her decision to vie for a political seat, the first question that she is asked is: Where will you get the money? They will not remember how she toiled to bring the money home. They will only ask: “Why do you want to spend?” When the husband wants to vie, he will even sell the family land without the knowledge of the family, and the wife will be the one to secure the family. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in this 21st Century, Kenya must move forward. Today, Tanzania has the first woman Vice President, yet, we are here telling Tanzanians that in East Africa, Kenya is the backbone of the economy and that it controls and drives the economy aggressively to ensure that we stay at the top. However, in governance, we are telling the others: “Look, as much as we are your leaders, we are unable to govern ourselves to ensure that both men and women participate in developing Kenya.” The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}