Source: Nairobi Star
A MUSLIM cleric in Upper Eastern has asked the government to stop violating the rights of the women. Sheikh Harun Rashid took issue with the government for not ensuring the gender parity rule is adhered to.
He said the move to deny women one-third representation on elective posts is unconstitutional.
He was addressing Muslims at Isiolo Stadium. " Women are our sisters and mothers and that the government should not marginalize them even after the new constitution" Harun said.
Heappealed to the president to intervene to ensure women's constitutional rights are respected. "Women have fought for the constitution for the last 25 years and failing to address their right means taking us back to the dark days of the old constitution" he said.
The clergy called upon women groups and civil society organizations to ensure that the constitution is implemented in full. Constitution has put the question of gender representations in Public affairs in the radar by ensuring that no more than two-third representation of any gender in public offices.
In the National Assembly, 61 seats have been reserved for women — 47 Women county representatives, six nominated by political parties,one youth, one disabled. A total of about 116 women are needed to satisfy one-third fraction of the 349 parliamentarians expected.