Women MPs vow to defend gender rule
The Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association at a press conference at Parliament where they announced their resolve to push for the implementation of the gender rule. PHOTO | EVAN HABIL
What you need to know:
- “We are asking him to immediately withdraw that Bill. We don’t think this is kind for the women of this country. We think it is meant to ensure that the gains that have been made by the women of this country through the Constitution are rolled back and we as the women leaders cannot be part of that process,” said Ms Mbarire.
Women MPs have resolved to organise a "million woman march" to Parliament to demand the withdrawal of a Bill seeking to change the Constitution and shelve the deadline to implement gender parity in the House.
Speaking under the banner of the Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association (Kewopa), the women MPs said the Bill by Samuel Chepkong’a, chairman of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, did not honour their views.
Kewopa chairman Cecily Mbarire said at a press conference at Parliament that Mr Chepkong’a ignored the recommendations of the technical working group involving the Attorney-General, the Gender Commission and other groups.
“We are surprised that the chairman published the Bill, brought it before Parliament, there was a Supplementary Order Paper and the publishing days were reduced to one. All of us were surprised by the turn of events,” said Ms Mbarire.
The Runyenjes MP said the women MPs “did not take that kindly” and would not support him and his proposals because he did not consult widely and that he is part of a plot to kill the provisions in the Constitution.
“We are asking him to immediately withdraw that Bill. We don’t think this is kind for the women of this country. We think it is meant to ensure that the gains that have been made by the women of this country through the Constitution are rolled back and we as the women leaders cannot be part of that process,” said Ms Mbarire.
Meanwhile, the public, mostly women, protested outside Parliament with placards demanding the implementation of the one-third gender rule as stipulated in the Constitution.
