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{
    "id": 945084,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/945084/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 152,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Westlands, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Tim Wanyonyi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 3036,
        "legal_name": "Timothy Wanyonyi Wetangula",
        "slug": "timothy-wanyonyi-wetangula"
    },
    "content": "what I have gone through and I know what other people who have tried it have gone through because of the marginalisation. This exercise is very expensive and comes with stigmatisation. When people profile you, it is very difficult to go out there and convince people to vote for you. This is a milestone and I am very sure that with proper civic education and information, our society will change for the better. This legislation is going to improve some of the ideals in our own society. In our political party, ODM, we are already doing the disability league. We also have youth and women leagues. This is the way to go. Other political parties must follow suit because we are doing it to make sure that the people in those groups have a voice in the decision-making in the political party. This is one way of bringing them on board. I have realised that when it comes to the time of nomination after elections, some political parties start grappling saying they do not have in their membership people with disabilities or they do not have any marginalised group in their list. So, they end up nominating other people who do not need nomination. This legislation to bring out this Article 100 is going to improve the representation of the groups mentioned here. Most of the time, because of lack of information, there is cultural profiling and considerations. Violence also scares the people off. When you go out there, if you are not ready, sometimes it will wear you out. I know very well what it means. Sometimes, when you go out and campaign against people whose intention is only to make sure that they win by all means, they will try to do everything to discourage you so that you are not able to represent them. I remember during the first election, on the eve of election, my opponent sent a bulk SMS around saying I have been nominated and, therefore, I will not be on the ballot paper. The people should elect him instead of me. Such things happen and, sometimes, we do not have any answers for them. But we want to make sure that when this legislation comes into force, that kind of behavior is stopped. I know of other countries that have tried this and have succeeded. I am sure with this Bill, even what our lady colleagues have been trying to do with regard to the two-thirds gender rule but have never worked, will make them realise that representation is in this House. This should have been done way back in 2016 but it has been delayed. But it is better late than never. We are now legislating on this. The Committee has done a very good job on this Bill. I am sure that at the Committee of the whole House, we will bring amendments that will bring out some improvement on this Bill. On the National Council of Persons with Disabilities, it is now provided here that they will provide funds to promote inclusion of people with disabilities. That is very important because that is one way of trying to create awareness and also to bring out people with disabilities to participate in civic exercises. Many times, we have had people with disabilities, who do not even participate, come out to register as voters or participate in elections because of obvious things. Sometimes, they are so disadvantaged and we are trying to make sure that those things do not disadvantage them anymore. Thank you. I support this Bill."
}