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{
    "id": 702571,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/702571/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 118,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Tobiko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1663,
        "legal_name": "Peris Pesi Tobiko",
        "slug": "peris-pesi-tobiko"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to oppose this Bill. It surprises me that every day when we transact business in this House and are legislating, people forget that we are doing so for posterity. We are not doing it for now, or for the female Members of Parliament who are here today. If that was the case, I would not oppose this Bill because I came from a single constituency. I floored men to come to this House. So, I am looking at the future, the way socialisation is happening in our communities today, the way the economy of this country is going and the challenges the boy-child faces as he grows. In future, history will judge this House harshly that the 11th Parliament passed laws that did not stand the test of time. In future, I believe the female gender will continue growing in representation and we will be talking about the boy-child who will be marginalised by then. Both girls and boys are our children and we want them to finally be included. So, we are talking about inclusivity and laws that will stand the test of time. Kenyans spent a lot of resources and time to come up with the 2010 Constitution which entrenched the two-thirds gender rule. We will be circumventing the same Constitution if we amend Article 81 and leave out Article 97. Some of these laws are entrenched in the Bill of Rights and you cannot amend them without a referendum. I rise to oppose this Bill and feel that Hon. Chepkong’a was speaking for himself and not for the Committee that he chairs. Members of that Committee, including the Vice Chair have opposed this Bill. It means that Hon. Chepkong’a did not even seek consensus in his Committee before he brought this Bill to the House. Kenyan women are watching and looking upon the honourable men of this House to represent and give them a fair chance for their voices to be heard and for them to be included in every aspect of life. We can no longer continue to have a country where only one gender is represented and only a section of the society feels enabled. It has taken a lot of struggle for some of us to make it to this House. We cannot use the cultures of our communities today to oppress a section of society. I come from a conservative society, they elected me and I know they are going to elect other women. The Constitution has given us a fair chance by enabling us and protecting our right by giving the two-thirds gender rule. So, what this House should do is to get a formula. We must burn the midnight oil. We have tried it and must continue trying but if the worst was to happen that this House goes home, let it happen. Let us all go home. Let Kenyans elect women back into this House if the gentlemen in this House cannot support women. I oppose the Bill."
}