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{
    "id": 858342,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/858342/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 374,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kiminini, FORD-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Chris Wamalwa",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1889,
        "legal_name": "Chrisantus Wamalwa Wakhungu",
        "slug": "chrisantus-wamalwa-wakhungu"
    },
    "content": "of women. Article 94 of the Constitution is very clear. It says that the legislative authority is vested in this House. So, it is our obligation to legislate. I thank Hon. Duale because in the last Parliament, it was him who brought a similar Bill. Initially, I thought he had given up but I can see that he is more energised. I thank Kenyans because when you do a trend analysis, in the last Parliament, the number of women who were elected in single constituencies was actually 16 but in this current Parliament, it went up to 24. This shows that there is progress. Unfortunately, the number 24 died. May her soul rest in eternal peace. That was Hon. Grace from Baringo, but the great people of Baringo decided to bring a man. Of course, you cannot dictate to them who to bring to Parliament. Mine is to request Hon. Members that we must work together to pass this Bill. If we do not pass it, anybody can go to court and Parliament can be dissolved. Martin Luther Junior said that we better learn to live together as brothers and sisters or we perish together as fools. This is a notice to those people who are opposed to this particular legislation. I can see the men and women in the 12th Parliament. When I look at their faces, I can see the mood of the House is that we are going somewhere. The challenge is to our fellow colleagues, particularly the 47 women. We want them to stand here to be counted. We want our fellow colleagues, particularly the 47 women, to stand up and be counted. When it came to voting in the last Parliament, some of the 47 women had travelled. From today till we vote, my colleagues - Women Representatives – please, avoid travelling. I congratulate Hon. Lesuuda who held a wedding. May she enjoy her honeymoon. When it comes to voting, she should cut short her honeymoon and come back and vote for this particular legislation. This is what we mean. I was listening to Hon. Kigano from Murang’a when he rose and said that this Bill is unconstitutional. President Moi used to say that old is gold. As you clearly ruled, Hon. Speaker, sovereignty refers to Article 1 of the Constitution. There is nothing unconstitutional in this legislative proposal. Courts interpret the law. Our work is to enact the laws. In line with Article 115, the President will have his say. Our leaders have spoken. We have seen His Excellency the President, the Deputy President, Raila Amolo, Kalonzo, Hon. Mudavadi and my party leader, Wetangula, saying that we should support this. In terms of political discipline, when a matter has been discussed at the political party level, you must toe the party line. Those Members who belong to political parties have no choice but to support what the political parties have decided so that we pass this amendment once and for all. We did not make it in the last Parliament but we must in this one. Those of you who read William Shakespeare know he was a very good poet. He said that all of us are on stage and are trying to perform. We will eventually exit but we must leave a positive legacy. The 12th Parliament is on the stage today. You will exit but you should leave a positive legacy of managing to put in place the two-thirds gender rule. We were here. I have a young daughter who is about two-and-a-half years old called Victoria. I am debating because I want Victoria to be counted in future so that she is given an equal opportunity to be a leader. I humbly request Hon. Members to move speedily and pass this amendment. I support the Bill."
}