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Women legislators support Chief Justice David Maraga

Thursday, September 24th, 2020 01:34 | By
Taita Taveta MP Naomi Shaban. Photo/PD/FILE

Mercy Mwai and Christine Musa

Women parliamentarians yesterday renewed their support for the decision by Chief Justice David Maraga to dissolve parliament over its failure to pass the two-third gender rule.

Speaking separately, the women said the decision is the best for the country as parliament has on various occasions proved that the two-thirds gender rule will never be enacted having rejected the bill more than four times.

Their support came on the day their male counterparts in parliament accused them of being the stumbling block towards the passage of the bill as on most occasions they have not been present in the house will voting on the bill was taking place.

Leader of majority Amos Kimunya, leader of John Mbadi and Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa said that the attitude by some of the women MPs is what has led to the bill being shot down by MPs.

 Mbadi regretted that on several occasions the women MPs have failed to present themselves in the house to pass the bill.

“We have not been having our women MPs coming to the house to vote for this bill when it comes up. Most of them have not been here,” he said.

 Kimunya said even if women pushed for the passage of the bill, Kenyans are still demanding to know the achievements of the current crop of women MPs before other positions are created.

Wamalwa however, was more candid accusing the women MPs and in particular Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga of having travelled to New York when voting on the bill was taking place in the National Assembly.

Attempts by Wanga and Speaker Justin Muturi to have him withdraw his sentiments were futile as he insisted that he had evidence to prove that Wanga was absent during the crucial vote.

“Hon. Wanga is one of those who left for New York when the debate on gender rule was being debated,” he said.

But speaking, Wanga objected to Wamalwa’s sentiments saying that on all the occasions the bill has been brought for debate she has been present in the house.

“I have been here when Duale one, Duale two and Duale three came up. All these occasions I was here and not New York.

We will only resolve this matter with the unity of purpose, let us not drag each other down,” she said.

Earlier, Wanga and a number of MPs who were in Maparasha Kajiado Central for a cultural event, supported Maraga’s decision saying while other provisions in the constitution have been implemented within the 10 years only the third gender rule has been ignored and opposed by their male colleagues.

“For the last 10 years, we women parliamentarians have been reduced to beggars persuading men to support women equality through the third gender rule.

Maraga is standing on the right side of law and as women we will remember him. 

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