New look Parliament a victory for women
What you need to know:
- Last week's changes in National Assembly Committee leadership saw more women get powerful seats .
- Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga became the first woman in the Kenyan Parliament history to head the influential Finance and National Planning Committee.
- Busia Women Rep Florence Mutua will now head the Education and Research Committee.
- Muranga’s Woman Rep Sabina Chege is also heading the powerful Health Committee.
- Lands committee is headed by Kitui South MP Ms Rachael Nyamai.
- Professor Margret Kamar was elected Senate Deputy Speaker becoming the first woman to occupy the office.
- Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo Adan and Farhiya Ali Haji took up Deputy Senate Majority Leader and Senate Deputy Senate Chief Whip respectively.
When Jubilee Party made changes to the National Assembly's leadership last month, there was an uproar after women were left out.
Women leaders were unhappy that no seat in the House leadership went to them. The one previously occupied by a woman went to a man - Nominated MP Cecily Mbarire’s deputy chief whip position was taken by Igembe North MP Maoka Maore.
Last week, however, the tide changed in their favour. More women were allocated powerful seats in changes made at the National Assembly Committee leadership.
The re-organisation followed the de-whipping of legislators perceived to be allied to Deputy President William Ruto.
Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga became the first woman in the Kenyan Parliament history to head the influential Finance and National Planning Committee.
This committee oversights the National Treasury and State agencies such as Central Bank of Kenya and Kenya Revenue Authority among others.
POWERFUL COMMITTEES
It is also critical in the enactment of government’s fiscal and monetary policies.
Ms Wanga said her election is a big win for women leadership.
“I am deeply humbled by my election as the chair of the Finance and Planning Committee. I will endeavour to serve the nation diligently in this new responsibility. I thank President Uhuru Kenyatta for his magnanimity and my party leader Raila Odinga for his faith in me,” she said.
Her Busia counterpart Florence Mutua will now head the Education and Research Committee.
Muranga’s Woman Rep Sabina Chege is also heading the powerful Health Committee while the Lands committee is headed by Kitui South MP Ms Rachael Nyamai.
Apart from heading at least four powerful committees, several other female MPs were elected vice-chairperson of various committees.
SENATE
They include Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba (Transport), Laikipia’s Catherine Waruguru (Agriculture and Livestock), Wajir’s Fatuma Gedi (Administration and National Security Committee) and Kibwezi East MP Jessica Mbalu (Public Accounts Committee).
Others are Kisii Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi (Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library), Embu’s Jane Wanjiku (Communication, Information and Innovation) and Ijara MP Sophia Abdi (Environment and Natural Resources).
The election of women to head the committees comes hot on heel of changes at the Senate.
Professor Margret Kamar was elected Senate Deputy Speaker becoming the first woman to occupy the office. She replaced Tharaka-Nithi Senator Prof Kithure Kindiki.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo Adan and Farhiya Ali Haji took up Deputy Senate Majority Leader and Senate Deputy Senate Chief Whip respectively.
The duo will deputise West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio and his Murang’a counterpart Irungu Kang’ata.
