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{
    "id": 674617,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/674617/?format=api",
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    "content": "one point. That is why the Constitution gives every Kenyan a right to go back to the courts for interpretation or remind the court on the ruling of Judge Mumbi. We normally assume that we can do everything including reducing days, clamping everything and finishing---. It is time to show Kenyans that we have the spirit of respecting the rule of law and the Constitution. You remember that we lobbied our colleagues and we are still lobbying. This is not a women’s issue. Women are fewer today but tomorrow, it may be the men who have less numbers. You never know. Nobody knew that at one point the former Prime Minister of Britain would leave his seat. A woman now occupies that seat. A woman may also end up being the President of USA. Therefore, let us not ignore this Bill. Let us agree in principle that whoever will benefit is a Kenyan; either male or female. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Bill also serves to affirm the marginalized groups and people living with disabilities. While amending it, we can bring amendments in the Elections Act so that everyone goes out to compete. That would be important so that we also feel the heat that everyone else feels. All these things depend on how we amend the Elections Act and ensure that happens when political parties are doing their nominations. I know that Kenyans feel that there are too many seats, which is true. However, if everyone goes for competition, then Kenyans will appreciate that one is not just given a seat but they have worked and toiled for it. We have clear debates in the Senate that people will come to understand. Sometimes because of the politics that we bring, Kenyans get totally confused and think that we are creating non-existent issues. However, let us bring out the sacrifice that we made when passing the new Constitution. We came up with a principle which must now have a formula to be implemented. That is why we have many nominated women in the counties. I discourage this. Let us ensure Kenyans understand why more women need to be elected to the county assemblies. At the same time, if more women are elected, men must be nominated to ensure that not more than two thirds of either gender is in that house. Nominated women are called “top ups” and Kenyans have decided to erode the issue of political parties “topping up” women in the county assemblies. They do not even remember that these women were nominated through a party list. It is important that nominated members uphold the interest of their party as they debate in that house. They should bear in mind the manifesto of their party. They should ensure their party is heard. Therefore, we must redeem that so that in the next elections in 2017, while we are aware that there will be many male contestants for the seat of MCA in a Ward, for instance 45, we must encourage women to be part of the 45. MCA will be a competitive seat. The men might discourage women by telling them that they have their “top up.” We should discourage this. That is why we must be clear in the amendment of the Elections Act on nominations. We must put in place a clear formula. Everyone has to contest for a seat. If you lose, and you are a best loser, your party can nominate you. We must also look at the amendments on the issue of handing in the party list before the elections. I am pleading with the House that, we should look at that amendment to ensure that people who have worked for the party benefit in those 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"
}