Source: CapitalFM
Kenya Women Parliamentarians (KEWOPA) now wants the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to withdraw the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) 2015 Bill proposing the progressive implementation of the two thirds gender rule.
Led by KEWOPA chairperson Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes), the MPs decried the move by committee chairman Samuel Chepkong'a to disregard proposals by fellow members and instead doctored the Bill to insert the progressive option which deletes the five-year deadline to implement the two third gender rule.
"We ask Chepkong'a to immediately withdraw the Bill from the floor of the House. We don't think this is kind for the women of Kenya. There should be consultation on how we can achieve the two-thirds gender rule," said Mbarire.
"We are going to remove our gloves and fight for the rights of women in this country. We got them painstakingly; we must defend them without fear or favour. As women we are coming out strongly on this matter," she added.
Nyeri County Woman Representative Priscilla Nyokabi who deputises Chepkong'a in the Legal Affairs Committee said she was equally surprised at the turn of events proposing that wider consultations be held with regard to the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule to ensure that come 2017 more women are elected.
"The matter of progressive was not one of the options. Postponement of the gender principle was not one of the issues," she confirmed.
The proposals by the Legal Affairs Committee include party lists where women would be encouraged to vie for the 290 slots so that more women are elected compared to now where there are only 16 elected women. The option of proportionate women elected according to the size of the counties and lastly pairing of the constituencies where the 290 are paired to create 145 special seats for women.
The legislators say they were perplexed at how fast the bill was brought before the House and the fact that a motion to reduce the publishing days of the Bill from 14 to one was passed.
The legislators say they were perplexed at how fast the bill was brought before the House and the fact that a motion to reduce the publishing days of the Bill from 14 to one was passed/CFM
Homabay County Woman Representative Gladys Wanga took issue with the fact that whenever the two-thirds gender rule issue came up, a debate on the wage bill also ensued urging those against its implementation to first watch out for the billions lost in corrupt activities.
The vocal Opposition legislator went on to accuse the Jubilee government of attempting to reverse the gains made by women in agitating for equal representation in elective positions.
"We will not accept this, we will lobby the women to resist this move to kill the gains we gave made," she said.
Nominated Senator Judy Sijeny sought to find out why women were being intimidated by their male counterparts further questioning the motive of the Ainabkoi legislator in sneaking in the progressive proposal in the Bill.
"Are they afraid of the strength of the woman? They knew what they were doing when they passed the Constitution... they should know that choices have consequences," Sijeny posed.
While seemingly admitting that many women in Parliament were yet to be proactive and 'find their voice' Sijeny said they should be given the chance to settle down and perform their duties.
"Even before the ink dried (on the letter outlining our mandate), we are fighting for our dear lives in Parliament. They did not make sure that many women were elected in the 290 slots, they must therefore adhere to the decision of the court," she said.
Wajir Woman Representative Halima Ali dispelled the notion that women were only seeking 'freebies' saying the society was parochial and there was need to empower women.
They expressed their intention to come up with an alternative Bill to replace that proposed by Chepkong'a to ensure that by 2017, there will more women on the ballot paper as they were qualified for the job.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) has sued Attorney General Githu Muigai and the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) for failing to give legal advice on the two-thirds gender rule.
CREAW chairperson Ann Njogu in her affidavit accused Muigai and CIC of failing to act in accordance with the Supreme Court Advisory opinion directing Parliament to have a framework on the realisation of the two-thirds gender rule before the expiry of the August 27th deadline.
"From the date of the Supreme Court Advisory opinion and promulgation of the Constitution the respondents have not yet prepared the relevant Bill for tabling before parliament for implementation of the said Articles," she states.
Njogu also wants the court to compel the government to implement the two-thirds gender rule to prevent a violation of the rule of law.
She says despite writing a demand letter to the respondents of the intention to sue them for failure to perform their duties, they have not responded.