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"id": 946172,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kanduyi, FORD-K",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Wafula Wamunyinyi",
"speaker": {
"id": 291,
"legal_name": "Athanas Misiko Wafula Wamunyinyi",
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"content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to second this important Motion as moved by the Chair of our Committee. Parliament was required to pass various pieces of legislation to give effect to the Constitution. One of the reasons why we have brought this big number of pieces is because of the timing and the fact that we have had two years without a piece of legislation. We want to utilise this opportunity to move related Bills together, so that we can maximise the usage of our time. One of the very important Bills that we seek to amend is the one related to the one-third gender rule. The one-third gender rule as was provided, and Parliament asked to pass legislation to ensure its implementation, was a good law and very ambitious. It wants to promote the disadvantaged persons in our community, but this was passed without a good mechanism being provided on how to go about it. There is that bit of democracy that people are elected. People go to ask for votes and they are elected. You cannot say so and so should not run for a position in this area. So, it is important that a way is found. We are proposing an amendment that political parties should take responsibility for ensuring that this rule is respected and complied with, so that we can realise what is envisaged in the Constitution. We have discussed this requirement, as a Committee, with various stakeholders and made this proposal of political parties taking up the responsibility of ensuring its implementation. On the IEBC, there was no provision in the IEBC Act on interpretation and it does not include the special interest groups. In this amendment, we are providing for that in the IEBC Act since it has not been provided for. As our Chair has explained when moving, this will ensure that on voter registration, IEBC has adequate data on categories of special interest groups that participate in the process. On offences, in Bungoma, some disabled persons have been abused by some politicians. Like Nominee 001, they are called “Khutiekela” in Kibukusu. You know, those who do not have anything to support themselves will keep limping. That act of limping is called “Khutiekela”. When they are called that at home, it amounts to an abuse. It is commonly used when people are campaigning. So, this will take care of that. It will ensure that the disabled are protected. We cannot abuse them. It is not their wish. I have threatened my friend that one day, I will take his crutches and see how he will walk. The other area which my colleague, the Chairperson, has pointed out is the manner in which political parties conduct themselves. For example, the current active case of money from the Exchequer to political parties. Some political parties that we worked with in our coalition want to take all the money. We worked together, supported them and they now want to eat all that money alone. This law will solve that problem. Some of these parties and their leaders are deceitful. When you talk to the leaders today, they will say this and then tomorrow they will somersault and say a different thing. This law is going to help us to deal with those deceitful leaders. It will ensure that when parties are working together, and funds come, they are not for an individual, but for Kenyans. Parties are expected to be facilitated to grow. That was the spirit of that law. Hon. Speaker, if you can remember, one time your former party, the Kenya African National Union (KANU) was a mass movement in this country just like the two mass movements we have, namely, Jubilee and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) parties. They will come down like your former party KANU did. So, this is merely helping. If we pass this law, it will help to protect the interest of all parties and help the small parties with 10 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."
}