Mombasa leaders renew call for two-thirds gender rule
Harrison Kivisu @kmbungu
Women politicians in Mombasa yesterday renewed calls for equal representation in all levels of government as the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) steering committee enters the last lap of collecting views from the public.
Speaking during the International Women’s Day celebrations at the Mkomani show grounds in Nyali, Mombasa, the leaders called for inclusion of women in all governance structures to be created in the expected review of the Constitution.
Led by Likoni MP Mishi Mboko and Mombasa Woman Representative Asha Mohamed, the leaders said BBI should ensure equity and gender balance in all top political positions in the country.
Mboko demanded a clearly defined structure to facilitate implementation of BBI recommendations that will see women granted equal opportunities in the political arena a proposal backed by Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir.
“Women want equal representation in every political ground and therefore we want to see the BBI report solve the issues of gender once and for all.
We are tired of being left out as women. We want to have women in all positions either as deputy governors or governors,” said Mboko. 
She also defended Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho who has been conspicuously missing on BBI tours in parts of the country, saying the governor is on a international development trip to Israel.
During the meeting, the duo, who often have differences, buried the hatchet and resolved to work together for the common good of residents and realisation of development in Mombasa.
Mboko and Asha, both elected on the ODM party, have been at loggerheads with Mboko accusing Asha of neglecting Mombasa women in development.
“We have no differences from today, we want to be united to deliver services to the people,” said Asha while she warned her political detractors that they are doomed to fail.
Mvita MP expressed optimism that the BBI would give women in the country a lifeline on the elusive two-thirds gender rule.
“I am in full support of the two thirds gender rule and we would want to see a situation where a governor is deputised by a woman, the president is deputised by a woman,” said Nassir.
He said the gender rule is among the major wins for women in the document because it features prominently as among the key pillars to help attain equal representation and inclusivity across the gender.
Currently, the National Assembly has 75 women, 22 elected from the 290 constituencies in the last election; six nominated and 47 elected as woman representatives.
There is, therefore, a requirement of 42 nominated MPs to achieve the gender principle.
