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{
    "id": 678106,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/678106/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 319,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sijeny",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13127,
        "legal_name": "Judith Achieng Sijeny",
        "slug": "judith-achieng-sijeny"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity. I wish to thank all the Senators who have contributed to this Bill. I do not take it for granted. I know that they have taken their time. Some researched well, listened and came up with very good ideas. First and foremost, I wish to respond and say that before this Bill was tabled, or sponsored at the Senate, there was very wide consultation. We consulted widely and I wish to record that it is the Attorney-General who was the convener of the meeting where all stakeholders who deal with women issues came, discussed and researched widely. We know the tremendous efforts by the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), especially the Chairperson, Madam Winfred Lichuma, who has given all her time and put her best foot forward to ensure that this Bill comes to reality. Madam Temporary Speaker, I wish to inform my colleagues that many formulas were discussed and debated. This was the best option out of all the ones that were suggested by the various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and many others. It was exposed to a lot of public participation. Therefore, what is in the Bill is well thought out. This affirmative action is not only a Kenyan initiative. It is a global initiative because many countries internationally and within the region have embraced this affirmative action. Zimbabwe, for instance, started implementing affirmative action in the year 2013 after their elections and they have complied. What we are bringing here is something similar. I was sent to Rwanda on Thursday to represent the Senate in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference which dealt with Commonwealth women parliamentary issues. What came out is that what we have put in this Bill is what all the Commonwealth countries are urging their member states to ensure that they have constitutional, legislative and political ways of ensuring and encouraging women participation. Madam Temporary Speaker, by coming up with this Bill, it should not be seen that it is us who have been nominated that are looking for a second chance of nomination. It is our role as the women of Kenya and the world to ensure that we improve and increase women participation. That is why we are enshrined in the Constitution. 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"
}