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{
    "id": 728588,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/728588/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 61,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ng’ongo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker. You have addressed a number of issues around this matter. However, I do not think the issue at hand is the dissolution of Parliament. As Kenyans, we decided, in our own wisdom, to put in our Constitution that we want to ensure gender mainstreaming in elective positions. What has been lacking is our commitment as political players, more particularly Parliament, to ensure that this happens. So, it should not be question of whether this House is going to be dissolved or not. We should take it as our responsibility. I want to disagree with the Hon. Leader of the Majority Party that courts have no say. Indeed, courts have a say because they arbitrate on matters that are of concern to us. In our Constitution, we decided to give the judicial system some space to get into that arbitration. Hon. Speaker, what is important is whether we, as political players, are ready to agree on how to ensure that that principle in the Constitution is implemented. This is because if we go the route of dissolution, it may not work. Right now, even if Parliament is dissolved in the next 60 days, I do not think many of us care much. By the way, we are more concerned with what will happen in the 12th Parliament. My concerns are two: I happen to occupy a very important position in one of the political parties. We need to show commitment to this process of ensuring gender equity. The other concern that I have is whether the Mover of the Motion, the Leader of the Majority Party is really convinced that he wants gender equity in this House. Today, it has come out clearly that he is one of those who do not believe that we should have gender equity. The way he talks that we should build roads and so on it is as if when we pass legislation to ensure gender equity, we will not build roads. Who said if we have more representation of women in Parliament we will not build roads? That, to me, was a little bit irresponsible coming from an important Member of a party that considers itself serious, the Jubilee Party. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}