Women were sidelined, say MPs

• Lawmakers say Kibaki’s new appointments violate law

Women MPs have condemned the absence of females from the list of new ambassadors and from a top-level team named to streamline the affairs of the Grand Coalition Government.

The MPs said the appointments were a blatant violation of the 30 per cent representation principle and called on the coalition principals to revise the lists.

Always victims

Addressing a press conference at Parliament buildings, members of the Women Parliamentarians Association, who included Cabinet minister Esther Murugi and nominated MP Millie Odhiambo said women had to be involved in the reconciliation process.

“Women are always victims whenever chaos erupts and we should be involved in the search for peace. Where is the 30 per cent representation that we have always pledged to accord women?” Ms Murugi asked.

The minister said that despite presenting a list of over 20 women for appointment to State corporations and ambassadorial jobs, none had been considered.

New list

The MPs urged President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to convene a meeting with women MPs to come up with a new list that includes women.

“We are not asking for charity or whining. All we are asking for is that the law be obeyed,” Ms Odhiambo said.

She said women felt insulted by the decision to replace two women ambassadors with men, saying this was a reversal of any gains made in the pursuit of gender parity.

Ms Odhiambo said the women MPs would also petition mediator Kofi Annan over his selection of mainly male experts to work at the soon-to-be established special tribunal to try post-election chaos architects.

Maendeleo ya Wanawake also accused the Government of sidelining women in its decision-making.

“We have realised that the two principals do not recognise women,” the chairperson, Ms Rukia Subow, said.

“We now call on all women to come together and forge a strong alliance that will enable them achieve their political dream in 2012.”

She accused the two principals of rewarding political leaders who had been rejected by the electorate with ambassadorial positions.

Law Society of Kenya chairman Okong’o O’Mogeni said the decision was ill-timed following the recently passed law on the National Integration and Cohesion Act.

He was backed by the Union of Kenya Civil Servants.

By Sammy Cheboi, Kibiwott Koross and Kenneth Ogosia