Women leaders give Uhuru 21 days to dissolve House
Women leaders have given President Uhuru Kenyatta 21 days to address the advisory by Chief Justice David Maraga that called for the dissolution of Parliament.
Speaking yesterday, a section of female legislators and women leaders under the umbrella of United Green Movement Party and Centre for Multi-Party Democracy (CMD) took a swipe at the current House for failing to implement the disputed two-thirds gender rule.
“We cannot create excuses for not implementing the Constitution we passed only when it comes to issues of honouring equality and rights of women.
The excuses are diversion to the implementation of this very important principle” said CMD Chairperson Senator Abshiro Halakhe.
Public Service CAS Rachel Shebesh said the ongoing debate should not be made to appear as a women issue, but addressed as a constitutional dispute that requires swift action.
Gilgil MP Martha Wangare, on the other hand disputed allegations that the Bill has always failed to see the light of day because of quorum.
She accused her male counterparts for not showing political goodwill to enact the gender rule.
People with disability
Rehab Ndambuki from the Wiper Party proposed the need to have the contentious gender rule implemented even in the management of parastatals.
On the other hand, the political women leaders emphasised why Parliament should be dissolved beyond just the two-thirds gender rule.
They want the President not delay any more in sending the Members of Parliament for failing to enact that piece of law, which by extension, protects the rights of children; people with disability, youth, minorities and marginalised groups and older members of society, respectively under; Article 53; 54, 55, 56 and 57.
“We are giving the President notice that he has 21 days starting today, to cash the first cheque ending discrimination in the country, first for women, then for all the categories of Kenyans by dissolving Parliament,” the women under the umbrella of United Green Movement Party.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), has, however, opposed the proposed dissolution of Parliament, saying it will have adverse effects on the education sector that is now on its recovery path.
Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion, yesterday said the union has instructed its lawyers to pursue the matter and accordingly enjoin the union in the application by Parliamentary Service Commission to challenge Chief Justice David Maraga’s advise to dissolve Parliament.
