Govt explores options on gender rule as deadline nears
Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, who has said the government is reaching out to influential women in politics to mentor younger women. FILE PHOTO |
What you need to know:
- The gender Bill has been defeated twice, sparking fears of a constitutional crisis and the dissolution of both Houses.
- There are other ways, such as lobbying for more inclusive laws in other areas, to make sure that the gender threshold is met in the next election.
The government is now reaching out to influential women in politics to mentor younger women for political leadership in a bid to meet the two-third gender threshold in the next general election.
Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said her ministry is looking to the council of “eminent women” from Kenya’s past and present to help mentor younger women for leadership.
The gender Bill has been defeated twice, sparking fears of a constitutional crisis and the dissolution of both Houses, but Attorney-General Githu Muigai is still optimistic.
Mr Muigai on Wednesday said the price of dissolving the National Assembly and the Senate if the gender threshold is not met in the next election is too high.
He said even though the deadline for passing the Bill is next week, there was still more time to come up with a solution that will prevent a crisis.
“I do not foresee a constitutional crisis of any nature because, ideally, this issue comes to a crunch when elections kick in. In theory, we still have one more year to work around it, though this is not our wish,” he said.
He argued that there are other ways, such as lobbying for more inclusive laws in other areas, to make sure that the gender threshold is met in the next election.
STEREOTYPING WOMEN
He, however, sought to allay fears that Parliament would be dissolved, saying that while such a move would be a “technical solution”, it would not be a practical one.
Ms Kariuki urged the media to help push the two-thirds gender rule message by demystifying it to the public.
“There were many misunderstandings in public perception of the issues. The debate was communicated as being about women rather than gender.
“My ministry is in the process of completing an election strategy to ensure more women show up to be voted for. We will also profile women to show that they are good and competent leaders. We will walk along existing leadership to mentor and coach women who are aspiring to be leaders,” she said.
The minister urged political leaders to minimise stereotype around women, arguing that “the politics around gender are not an end but a means towards a more empowered government and society.”
Mr Muigai and Ms Kariuki are set to meet with senators to encourage them to come up with a solution to the impending impasse in the face of the August 27 deadline for passing the gender Bill.
Following the failure to effect the two-third-gender principle by the constitutional deadline of August 27, 2015, Parliament exercised its constitutional power to extend the timeline by one year.
The Bill can only be re-introduced in Parliament in November, six months since its last defeat in May and way past the August 27 deadline.
