August 9

Parliament fails two-thirds gender rule one more time

Thursday, August 18th, 2022 02:30 | By
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba. PHOTO/Courtesy

The incoming bi-cameral Parliament will not meet the two-thirds gender rule despite more women being elected in the just concluded election.

 Data from Mzalendo, an entity that keeps track of MPs’ performance, indicates that a total of 76 women have been elected to the National Assembly and three others to the Senate. The number excludes those expected to be nominated to the Senate.

 Mzalendo says for Parliament to meet the two-thirds gender requirement, the country would have elected at least 97 women to the National Assembly and 16 to join the Senate.

 In the 12th Parliament, the National Assembly had 76 women MPs both  elected and nominated while the Senate had four elected and 16 nominated.

 “Twenty-nine women have been elected to represent single member constituencies in the 13th Parliament,” data notes.

 Mzalendo Executive Director Caroline Gaita says although the country is yet to achieve the two-thirds gender rule, a lot has been achieved, as there has been an incremental progress.

 She said  the affirmative action has seen more women vying for the single member constituents while others vied and won governorship positions.

 “We are making incremental progress and also affirmative action is bearing fruits. We have seen some of the women who came in through affirmative action have now vied for governor and single member constituencies and won,” Gaita said.

 She continued: “The journey is still long though and a lot remains to be done.  The aforementioned numbers are still a long way to the 116 that are necessary to be compliant with the two-thirds requirement in Parliament while those at the county level are still way below the number required.”

 Gaita also noted that the generation mix of the women in Parliament is also impressive, as this had seen the country electing the youngest Woman Rep.

 The move, she notes, is a vindication that the affirmative action or quota approach is an effective tool to enhance participation of marginalised groups.

Long journey

 “However, it is the courageous move from the Woman Rep positions to the more competitive positions that should be lauded. That we have a first-time Woman Rep winning a governor seat and defeating an incumbent who has never lost an election, is no mean feat.  That win should be celebrated,” she said.

 Governance consultant Jessica Musila also lauded the performance of women in the just concluded General Election, saying they have performed well compared to before. She noted that the deliberate efforts by parties to also field women in their stronghold also paved the way for the election of more women.  “ We are making great progress because as you can see the affirmative action is bearing fruits like in the case of Gladys Wanga becoming a governor is something to celebrate. We are also taking note of the deliberate decision by parties to give spaces to women to contest in their stronghold this has bore fruits,” she said.

 Mzalendo data further indicates that former Woman Rep were elected to single member constituencies.

 They include Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri), Rosa Buyu  (Kisumu West) and Ruweida Obo (Lamu East), who all served one term as Woman Reps as well as Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri), a former Woman Rep for Nyandarua from 2013 to 2017.

 Some of young women who have been elected as members of the National Assembly include Linet ‘Toto’ Chepkorir (Bomet), Cynthia Rotich  (Nandi), Martha Wangari (Gilgil), Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), Edo Udgoon Siyad (Garissa), Jane Maina (Kirinyaga) and Muthoni Marubu (Lamu).

More on August 9


ADVERTISEMENT

RECOMMENDED STORIES August 9


ADVERTISEMENT