Parliament Speakers seek dropping of gender case

Activists demonstrate outside Parliament on May 5, 2016 over gender imbalance. Three lobby groups sued Parliament Speakers over the gender principle. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Judge Mwita will rule on August 24 on whether he will temporarily issue orders stopping the swearing-in.

Speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate now want a case seeking to stop the swearing-in of elected MPs for failing to legislate the gender principle be dismissed.

Responding to the case filed by three lobby groups on August 17, the Speakers of both Houses said legislators could not be blocked from assuming office.

ELECTIONS ACT

As if defending the 11th Parliament, they claimed through lawyer Sheriffson Mwendwa that the National Assembly enacted a legislation to implement the rule through amendments in the Elections Act.

“The Constitution of Kenya bestows upon Parliament responsibilities that would be curtailed if Parliament is restrained from sitting, leading to grave consequences to public governance,” Mr Mwendwa said.

HOUSE BUSINESS
He explained that should Parliamentarians be stopped from being sworn in there would be no approval of persons nominated to be Cabinet secretaries so that they can be officially appointed.

Mr Mwendwa dismissed the case as premature and filed in bad taste.

Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (Crea) and Community Advocacy and Awareness Trust, as well as Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) sued last week.

High Court judge Enoch Chacha Mwita will rule on August 24 on whether he will temporarily issue orders stopping the swearing-in.