Women praise proposed law’s provisions on gender equality

• At a meeting in Nairobi to consider the draft, they say it hasn’t ignored them

Article 38 states that women and men have the right of equal treatment, including the right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social activities.

The women were pleased with how the draft tackled the emotive issue of land. In Chapter 7 on land and property, Article 77 (2)f states that the elimination of gender discrimination in laws, regulations, customs and practices related to land and property will ensure women are entitled to inheritance.

Equally pleasing to the women is Chapter 10 on representation. Of particular interest to them is Article 102(b), which directs the electoral system to also satisfy gender equity in elected bodies, as provided in Article 13(2)(j) on implementing the principle that not more than two thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender.

On the Legislature, Article 15(b) states that two women shall be elected from each county assembly, acting as an electoral college, and on the National Assembly membership, with sections in Article 126 providing how women and people with disability are elected.

On Chapter 14, women noted that devolution was one of the major sections that would have a direct positive implication on women’s participation in decision-making. First and foremost, it ill bring power closer to where most women are, and second, the implantation of affirmative action principle of one third representation of either gender will greatly contribute to nurturing women for leadership at all levels.

Article 214(c), for instance, states that no more than two thirds of members of representative bodies in each devolved government shall be of the same gender. And within the regional assemblies, Article 216 (3) notes that in electing delegates, county assembly shall take into account ethnic and other diversities, including gender representation.

But women at yesterday’s meeting were aware that unless there was consensus on the Executive, devolution and the kadhi’s courts, all these good provisions would not come to fruition.

They therefore pledged to work hard to ensure there was a compromise on all the issues.

An AWC Feature