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{
    "id": 858411,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/858411/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 443,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba North, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": "affirmative action under Article 27. What this Bill seeks to do is give life to the principle of affirmative action. I want to speak as one of the framers of the Constitution. Even if you look at the legislative history, the framers of the Constitution intended that, after the 47 women that were in the last Parliament, we were supposed to have topped them up. Unfortunately, the last Parliament did not do so. Therefore, what we are doing is living to the dream of the constitutional framers. It is not only that. What we have is a situation where the Constitution seems to provide a different standard. If you look at the Article that talks about women MCAs, we provided a principle and formula. That is why most of the counties have come very close to complete 30 per cent. However, we failed to provide the formula in the National Assembly. So, we are not amending the principle referred to in Article 10; we are giving the formula. That does not require a referendum. Having said that, I want to say that Kenya has distinguished itself as a nation of firsts. It has distinguished itself as a giant in the region yet we are trailing all our neighbours on the issue of affirmative action. Even the countries that have gone through challenges of civil war are ahead. We are trailing South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda; we are trailing all the countries in East and Southern Africa. This is not a unique thing that Kenya is doing. We have just come back from Kyiv with Parliamentarians for Global Action and several countries there were indicating that they are passing laws that give effect to this Bill. I am sure some of the people who are opposed may be giving us an example of the USA, where they have not yet attained one-third gender rule. The USA is a known giant democracy. However, as a matter of fact, it has failed in certain areas and one of them is affirmative action. When you copy certain countries, you do not emulate them even with the baggage; emulate them with the good things. We will emulate the USA with their democracy, but we will be the pioneers for them. Let the USA also emulate Kenya on issues of affirmative action and inclusion of persons with disability. I am very disappointed and I am often disappointed when I see other minorities challenging women on these issues. It is unfortunate when you are a person with disability, who has come to Parliament as a consequence of affirmative action, challenging women who are trying to get the same platform. The best way is for you to come forward and ask: Now that you are pushing the women agenda, how can we push the disability, so that the number can increase?"
}