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{
    "id": 674620,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/674620/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 423,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13156,
        "legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo Jnr",
        "slug": "mutula-kilonzo-jnr"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise to support in principle. It is fair that we affirm the constitution. Article 260 says:- “The “affirmative action” includes any measure designed to ameliorate an inequity or the systematic denial or infringement of right or fundamental freedom”. It is disappointing that in the history of this country we know - Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale mentioned this during our Senate Select Committee - that women are 52 per cent of the population. They are the majority and yet 50 years since Independence, they continue to be marginalized. I have the privilege of being one of the two rapporteurs of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). I will be presenting a report in October during the General Assembly of the IPU on this question. We are investigating why it is that so many years after the Beijing Declaration, many other declarations and conventions, we are still arguing on this principle of this minimum. Kenya is at 22 per cent in terms of the gender question. This is way below the one third that is contemplated. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, under Article 91, I had the privilege of making this presentation and I will repeat it today, that this gender question is not separate from a free and fair, simple and accurate election. This is to the extent that if this question is not answered before the next general election, we are going into a constitutional crisis. It is possible that the men who are the majority in this Parliament will have to stand up to be counted. I am doing some work for the IPU and it has long been recognized that men are the ones who are occupying all the seats whether it is executive, parliamentary or parastatal. It is a structural problem in a patriarchal society. This is the theme that we in the IPU have adopted. Men and women have now come together to create a bridge, in our quest to find out how the gender parity issue is being done all over the world. In Togo, special seats are reserved for women, but they do not take them up. In India, there is an Amendment Bill No 208 passed by the Upper House and rejected by 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"
}