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{
    "id": 91244,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/91244/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 214,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Shabesh",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 377,
        "legal_name": "Rachel Wambui Shebesh",
        "slug": "rachel-shebesh"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Minister for moving this Motion so ably, and also to acknowledge his officers who are here. I want to speak very quickly on three points. One, that there has been a policy on affirmative action; one third representation of women in the Public Service. It has never been implemented. I would like the Minister to clarify and tell us--- I can see in his presentation that he has not touched on that issue. Since the Constitution does not give you a choice, what structures have you put in place? There is no point to keep on passing good policies which are not implemented. You can even look at the officers who are present here from the two Ministries. There is no woman. I do not see a woman! If there is one, she is obviously hidden by the Chair. I cannot see her. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I am saying that it is quite unfortunate that we continue to say that we are a Government that recognizes women. But even as I say that, I do know that there is a new Constitution and, therefore, this issue of women representation will no longer be something we have to beg for. It will be something that will have to be implemented. So, I am asking this Ministry that is in charge of the Public Service and employment of people in the Government to ensure that this is really taken care of. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I will also raise the issue of the retirement age that this Ministry sneaked into the Cabinet and had it passed; it did not bring it to this House. You can be sure if you had brought it here it would not have passed, because we have an old Civil Service. An old Civil Service cannot have new ideas. It cannot bring change. There is no way we are going to cheat ourselves that when countries are harnessing the potential of their young people, we are raising the retirement age of our older generation and, therefore, locking out people from being employed by the biggest employment agency, which is the Government. The Government is the biggest employer. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would like to ask the Government to really re-think its policy in terms of employment, because we have many young people graduating from universities and have no jobs in the Government. The Government is instead raising the age of retirement. I really think this is something that you must address. Lastly, I would like the Ministry not to keep on raising peoples hopes in terms of remuneration and then not effecting any change. You know very well, Mr. Minister, that you spoke about hardship and commuter allowances for the Civil Service, but when the budget came here we did not see that effected. Really, it would be unfortunate if it was just public relations. The issue of making promises and then you use an excuse of saying that the Government did not release the money, we are saying we are tired of it. If it can happen, then let it happen. If it cannot happen, do not raise the hopes of Kenyans and then when the Budget is read, they see nothing in it for hardship and commuter allowances. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to support this Motion, but ask the Ministry to put what I have said into consideration."
}