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{
    "id": 674448,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/674448/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 251,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13162,
        "legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
        "slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Bill. I wish to congratulate and thank the Mover of the Bill, Sen. Sijeny. We are aware that many attempts have been made to deal with the issues that Sen. Sijeny has brought before this House. Many of them have not succeeded partly because of the jingoism that many political leaders in this country have and partly because of the attitudes that we have towards the implementation of the new Constitution. I support this Bill for two reasons; the first one is because the Constitution requires that in elective positions, not more than two-thirds shall be of one gender. When we got the Constitution we swore an oath to defend and protect it. Therefore, if the Constitution requires it, it is upon us to ensure that we give effect to it. Secondly, I support this Bill because it is the right thing to do. In a society like ours where women have always been categorized alongside children and their place considered the kitchen and other peripheral areas of the homestead, it has not been very easy for our women to rise to attain positions of leadership as opposed to men. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are still very many cultures in this country where even for a woman to stand before men and seek political positions is still being frowned upon. In fact, many women will be called prostitutes when they are seen running around going to meetings in the night and hobnobbing with men and other normal citizens in the name of looking for votes. Therefore, it is right for us to provide the “crate” that Sen. Wangari talked about. If we want to treat everyone on equal terms in society, that means that women will definitely struggle to keep up with men. That is why there needs to be some equity. We need to provide women with some soft landing and certain advantages so that they are able to overcome the historical injustices that they have suffered in the past. In the county assemblies, we have already attempted to cure this issue. In my county, Homa Bay, only one woman was elected competitively out of the 40 wards. One out of 40 could easily be 2.5 per cent. That is very far off the mark of ensuring that not more than two thirds should be of the same gender. As a result, we have had a number of nominated women Members of the County Assembly (MCAs). At the county assembly level across all the counties, we have already rectified that anomaly. We can also see that the 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"
}