Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 624097,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/624097/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 124,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": "On a point of order, Hon. Speaker. I rise under Standing Order No.173 (2) which states that:- “The Committee on Selection shall give consideration to the need for gender balance and shall, so far as may be practicable, ensure that no more than two-thirds of Members of a Committee of the Assembly, including a Committee established through a resolution of the House, shall be of the same gender”. I want to read that together with Article 27(8) of the Constitution which states that:- “In addition to the measures contemplated in Clause (6), the State shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender.” My concern is that this Committee as constituted is unconstitutional. I know that there is an argument that the entire House in itself does not constitute one-third in terms of gender. However, in terms of realising or working towards that realisation, we must be alive to the proportionality of the female gender in this House. If you are talking about proportionality, I do not think one woman out of 19 men represents proportionality. I want to speak as the Chairperson of 16 women who fought out with men and were elected yet we are being treated in this House as second class citizens. We will move from fighting on the ground to fight on this Floor. This is because it is a consistent war. We have made this provision in the Constitution and every time we have to come here and beg. We have shown men that we can fight and defeat them. Why are you using your numbers to intimidate us? I want to tell the proposed Chairman of this Committee that this is unconstitutional. I know they are rigging themselves in. He will not use the issue of time when it comes to issues of women and representation. Other times you tell us to fight it out with men. We fought it out and that is why I am here as the Member of Parliament for Mbita. You do not have to put Hon. Millie Odhiambo in that Committee. There are 15 other women who are capable and even if you left the 15, there are 47 others who represent counties. There are five others who have been nominated. So, it is not that we have a dearth of women in this House. So, I request that you rule that this matter should not be debated because it is unconstitutional. Let it be brought back on Tuesday. Our constituents will not die. They will wait until Tuesday, so that we can respect the women of this country. I know that when it is an issue of interest to Hon. Jakoyo, he stands very strongly. He has stood very strongly and fought against the man who beat women. May I see him standing now to defend Hon. Millie Odhiambo of Mbita, 16 women and the others? Finally, I want to indicate for your information that not only am I a victim of gender wars, but I am also a victim of inefficiency in Africa. I am a Member of PAP, but I have not attended the last two sessions because the machine that makes diplomatic passports has broken 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."
}