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{
    "id": 859833,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/859833/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 410,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Isiolo North, KPP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Hassan Hulufo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13348,
        "legal_name": "Hassan Oda Hulufo",
        "slug": "hassan-oda-hulufo-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I would like at the outset to support this constitutional amendment Bill. The proposed amendment is actually something which ought to have been done before today. It is unfortunate that past attempts by this House during the 11th Parliament did not succeed. My only hope is that the passion we have shown in supporting this Bill will enable us to mobilise enough numbers and ensure that the amendment is passed so that we can confirm that we abide by and live by what we said when we were sworn in as Members of Parliament to protect the Constitution of Kenya. As it is now, both Houses of Parliament are unconstitutional because the two-thirds gender principle is not attained. But we also need to appreciate that there has been progress. If you look at the number of our female colleagues who were elected from constituencies in 2013 and compare it with those who got elected in 2017, we have made some significant progress. I am hopeful that come 2022, we shall have more women being elected from constituencies so that the number we require to fill gender gap becomes smaller. It is unfortunate that a lot of propaganda is going on out there indicating that what is being proposed is going to be a burden to taxpayers. It is unfortunate. There is no truth in it. The value that we are going to get by nominating extra women after election to ensure that we attain the gender principle is more than the cost that is going to be incurred as a country. Our women have proven themselves as effective leaders at all levels from local, national to global levels. I would like to remind Kenyans that the late Wangari Maathai made us proud by being the first woman winner of Nobel Prize from this continent. Most of the women who were nominated in the past have gone on after proving themselves to be effective leaders to seek elective positions. We have many female colleagues in this House who were nominated competitively. They have proven themselves after nomination. They have gone for elective positions as women representatives, as constituency MPs and as senators. That also indicates to us that although there is concern about the process used to nominate some Members, most of the times parties pick individuals who will add value to debate in this House. Parliament is the arm of Government that makes policies and legislation. When we have more women – at least 30 per cent as required by the Constitution – it will be merrier for the country. It will add value in terms of what the women bring in. Having more women in decision- making process has been proven to make the decision-making process more inclusive and more responsive to needs of all sectors of our society. I would like to allay fears expressed by those who are against this Bill, the party leaders, especially of dominant parties, and urge them to seriously consider supporting women who come out to compete for constituency seats. I am sure that way, most of the things that our women are exposed to like violence, abuses and so on will be less. I am sure given a level playing ground, women can outcompete most male candidates. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}