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{
    "id": 748416,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/748416/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 238,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity. I want to thank the Mover for bringing this Bill to the House. I would very reluctantly support this Bill, which is a bit strange. The reason is that we have been very busy with campaigns. Therefore, I have not had occasion to look at it critically, but I have seen that there is a fundamental change in the architecture of the Bill, and in the principles surrounding it. I was part of the delegates at the Bomas of Kenya. One of the issues that derailed the Bomas process at one point in relation to the issue of affirmative action was the issue of proportional representation. I have heard the Hon. Member say that the amendment they have proposed speaks to the issue of proportional representation. The only reason as to why I would be persuaded to support proportional representation is time, and we need to obey the court. If we do not obey the court, there are implications on us as Members of Parliament. If the lifespan of the House is shortened by a court order, and not by operation of the law, there are very serious financial implications for Members of this House. That is not my only motivation; it is so, so that you are aware. I have a challenge with this amendment because even though I am very saddened that many women unsuccessfully sought nomination to vie for Member of County Assembly, Member of Parliament, Senator and Governor seats, this is the first time I have seen an amazing number of women who are interested elective positions in this country. I was moving all over town, in my constituency and other places. The number of women who sought nomination for various political seats was unprecedented. One of the things that could have encouraged women is what women who joined Parliament by virtue of affirmative action do on the Floor of this House. The women of this country have seen the excellent work that the 47 county women representatives have been able to do; the excellent work that the 16 leading elected women Members of the National Assembly have been able to do and the fantastic work that the women Senators have been able to do. For the first time in the history of this country, women have realised that what has all along seemed impossibility is actually possible; that, they are able to compete fairly and equally with men. However, when you talk about proportional representation, which would take us to the party lists, it means we are removing the element of competition. Somebody will sit down, write down a list and include anybody they want. We saw the fiasco that was in the county assemblies as a result of selection of people, as opposed to election. I am fairly hesitant to support a system which does not give women a chance to learn politics. The reason why we are doing affirmative action is because women can learn competitive politics. I am very happy about the issue of the sunset clause. However, the sunset clause presumes that we will have learnt to compete with men. We have learnt the tricks that we have seen, which have seen many women fall. Men rig elections, beat up people and do all manner of things to make you get off the way. The fact that some women have managed to make it to Parliament despite their male counterparts’ bad manners is inspiring. If we put a proportional representation list, women would just sit back. The tragedy is that the few women who would have tried will be left out of those lists. I want us to challenge ourselves and look at the lists that the parties will be presenting. Very few will put women who actually tried to be elected as Members of Parliament and Members of County Assembly. We will see fresh faces of people who are relatives of party mandarins. I do not want to say girlfriends because the men like saying so. It is not only The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}