Murugi faults Speaker Muturi, Duale over one-third gender rule

Nyeri Town MP, Esther Murugi has lashed out at the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Leader of Majority, accusing them of frustrating the attainment of the one-third gender rule in parliamentary committees.

Ms Murugi made the remarks after Wednesday’s debate that saw Parliament approve the list of new members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Out of the 29 members, only three were women, which does not meet the constitutional requirement for a minimum threshold of gender inclusion.

Ms Murugi took issue with what she termed as a dictatorial attitude of the Speaker Justin Muturi.

“When I rose to protest and point out this oversight, he did not give me an opportunity to speak until the matter had already been voted on, by which time it was too late,” she said.

PROTESTED MBARIRE'S SUBSTITUTION

Murugi had risen to protest the substitution of the former vice-chairman, Runyenjes MP, Cecily Mbarire, with Kieni MP, Kanini Kega to the powerful watchdog committee.

She argued that Ms Mbarire should have been replaced by a woman MP in PAC adding that there are more women in the Energy committee to which she has been moved.

She blamed Mr Duale, the Majority Leader for nominating a man and said that it was indeed a sad day for women in the country and the one-third rule had been reduced to a joke.

The legislator, who is an elected MP, called on women to vote for more women leaders if they are to get their voices heard.

“Women need to vote (for) women leaders because we cannot trust our legislators to have the goodwill to implement affirmative action Bills.

“It is apparent that our leaders are holding this rule in ridicule. The only way we can get our voices heard is by earning our rightful place in the House,” Ms Murugi said.