Minister: Kenya must meet one-third gender rule

Kenya's next Parliament and Senate risk being declared unconstitutional if at least a third of their members are not women, a minister has warned.

Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa said Tuesday a retreat has been organised for next week in Mombasa to lobby MPs to support constitutional amendments to provide for the formula to be used.

Article 27 of the Constitution says the State shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective and appointive bodies shall be of the same gender.

On Tuesday, Mr Wamalwa told a regional dialogue on women political leadership that the government is committed to attaining the requirement and that the Constitutional Amendment Bill to enforce it had passed the first reading.

"It has also gone through the public participation stage and is awaiting the second reading. We need your support and of all MPs to raise two-thirds majority required to pass the amendments," Mr Wamalwa said.

He said a retreat will be held in Mombasa on August 24 and August 25 to lobby for MPs support and "sensitise them that this is not a women issue but a national one".

"In Egypt, Parliament was declared unconstitutional. The next Parliament and Senate can also be exposed to constitutional challenges unless we put our act together and bring about the proposed amendments," Mr Wamalwa said.

Regional dwarf

He regretted that although Kenya was a regional economic powerhouse it is a regional dwarf when it comes to representation.

"We need to do something about it. The only way Kenya can redeem itself is by delivering on the one-third promise. I will be moving the bill that provides the formula hopefully after building consensus in Mombasa," Mr Wamalwa said.

Mr Wamalwa said political parties should also play a role in ensuring ethnic, regional and gender diversities.

He said the national values policy has been approved by the Cabinet and that it will help change negative attitudes towards women.

National Gender and Equality Commission chairperson Winfred Lichuma said only 9.8 percent of MPs in Kenya are women, compared to 56.3 percent in Rwanda, Uganda (35 percent), Burundi (30.5) and Ethiopia (37.8).

She said women should fill the at least one-third position provided in the Constitution "and move to 50:50 to hold the government into account".

Gender minister Naomi Shaban said it is too early for women to celebrate the gains in the Constitution as there were still religious and cultural hindrances facing them. Women further have limited resources to launch successful campaigns.

Less than 20 percent

UNDP director for Gender based in New York Winnie Byanyima said the positions set aside for women will result to more equitable development.

She regretted that women worldwide occupy less than 20 percent of seats in both houses of Parliament.

"Women’s participation improve the quality of governance," Ms Byanyima said.

UNDP Resident representative and UN Resident coordinator in Kenya Aeneas Chuma said there was need to ensure the slots set aside for women are met as the election approaches.

"Enabling laws should be implemented to meet the two-thirds requirement," Mr Chuma said.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said eight African countries have more than 30 percent women MPs with Rwanda having the highest followed by South Africa. Others are Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda.

"We expect Kenya to join the countries in the near future. We congratulate Kenya for passing the quota in the Constitution," President Sirleaf said in a video message delivered at the conference.

She said women lack education, resources, political experience and connections to vie for office and that it is political parties and the media who make or break them.

"We should change the hearts, minds and attitudes of those who obstruct women. Lets pledge to continue fighting for gender equality and women empowerment" President Sirleaf said.