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{
    "id": 858339,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/858339/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 371,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Baringo North, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. William Cheptumo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 50,
        "legal_name": "William Cheptumo Kipkiror",
        "slug": "william-kipkiror"
    },
    "content": "pass this Bill so that we have our rating in the region raised to take the position that we are always known for. Kenya’s image globally, in terms of women representation in Parliament, was not good. The Eighth Periodic Report by the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women in November 2017 observes: “The Committee is concerned seven years after the adoption of the new Constitution, the rule that no more than two-thirds of the elective public bodies are not to be of the same gender is still not implemented.” Another critical point that this House should note is that Kenya is a signatory to various international treaties inter alia the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Africa Union Protocol to the African Charter on Human Rights and People’s Rights. Despite Kenya being a signatory to all these instruments, we are still ranked lowly in terms of mainstreaming the role of women in leadership in this country. Non-implementation of the two-thirds gender principle cannot be justified legally or constitutionally based on a report of the National Women Steering Committee in partnership with the Institute of Economic Affairs 2015. What I have quoted here is the summary of the institutions and the expressions of Kenyans who have given views in support of this Bill. We represent the people – the sovereign will of the Kenyan people. Having gone round the country and received 85 per cent support of this Bill, I think it is important that the Members of this House, who have been elected to represent the Kenyan people and express the sovereign will of the people, support this Bill. Failure by the National Assembly to pass this Constitution of Kenya (Amendment Bill) Bill means that the likelihood of the dissolution of the 12th Parliament, as provided under Article 261 (6) and (7), is real. The judgement of the Supreme Court in 2012 and that of the High Court in 2012, 2015 and 2017 as well as the advisory by the National Gender and Equality Commission, all issued against the House, point to the gravity of this matter. I conclude by saying that the 12th Parliament should be counted. This House has been able to stand firm on issues. The other day, when the Bill sponsored by Hon. Wamalwa came to the House, changing the election date from August to December, we almost passed it. We were short of just a few Members to raise the quorum. Kenyans are watching us. This House should be counted. I appeal to my colleagues to support this Bill. The Members of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee will confirm that when they went round the country, they were surprised by the overwhelming support that Kenyans and institutions gave this Bill. I request my colleagues to pass this Bill. You have daughters who want to lead this country in future. You have sisters. This is the only opportunity for us to to ensure that we put this in the Constitution so that the women of Kenya can play a role in the leadership of this country. With those remarks, I support."
}