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{
    "id": 678019,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/678019/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 232,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you. Since I had only spoken for just three minutes before we adjourned, I would like to start by affirming my absolute commitment to affirmative action. I would also like to affirm my commitment as a leader in the House, a party and a presidential candidate to the cause of our women who have been disadvantaged in many respects and who have been disenfranchised in many electoral processes. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when we go to elections, the distinguished Senator for Tharaka- Nithi County vies in the village where he was born and grew up; a place where he made friends and enemies in equal measure, sometimes. The people who go to vote for him are those that know him very well. However, our daughters and sisters who are married in the neigbouring counties, have identity problems. The people of that county would like one of their own. They will ask about her parents and all manner of things. Therefore, it takes a milestone to get distinguished persons like former Cabinet Secretary, hon. Charity Ngilu, born in Mbooni and married in Kitui to be repeatedly elected with landslide victory. They are very few of such situations. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there are also women in a minority who have stood, competed and defeated men such as hon. Cecily Mbarire, hon. Millie Odhiambo and a distinguished MCA in my county who has been elected three times. There is every indication that she will be elected again in the next election. However, a majority of the women cannot stand the rough tumble of competitive politics. A monopoly of hooligans surround them that intimidate women candidates to the extent where campaigning on an even ground becomes very difficult. That is why it is important that affirmative action be entrenched, supported and implemented to give women an opportunity to join in this electoral and post-electoral arrangement. Even in this House, we have persons like yourself, elected in your own right previously, but now nominated to this House and performing your duties with total distinction. I can say this of very many of our ladies in this House. Last week when I was concluding my speech for the day that appeared to make the sponsor of the Bill both uncomfortable and unhappy, I said, and I say this without any apologies that, first, affirmative action is not open-ended. It always has some sunset. It is a therapy, a measure that is meted to improve situations. 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"
}