Justin Muturi roots for Law change over gender rule

Kenya may have to amend the Constitution to give full meaning to the two thirds gender rule and put an end to the persistent gender parity row, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has said.

Speaking in New York, Mr Muturi said although the Constitution requires that women be treated as equals to their male counterparts, “the right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres is yet to be fully realised.”

He was addressing the 4th  Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Summit attended by over 170 parliamentary speakers and deputy speakers at the UN headquarters.

FULL EFFECT

“Despite this milestone in the promotion of women participation in politics and fulfilment of the minimum target of 30 percent representation of women in the political arena, this target was not achieved at the parliamentary level in Kenya in the last elections of 2013,” he told a plenary meeting during a speakers’ presentation session.

“Eventually, I see the Constitution being amended to give full effect and meaning to this requirement,” he told the packed auditorium on Wednesday.

Mr Muturi also lamented about the slow pace of attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in parts of Africa, citing security concerns occasioned by terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram, among other factors.

INFLUENCE POLICY

The summit, which closed on Wednesday, was attended by parliamentary officials drawn from 140 countries around the world.

The attendees passed a resolution to influence policy in their respective countries to promote efforts aimed at making parliaments more representative, accountable and transparent.

The speakers also resolved to support  the new development agenda with its 17 goals (SDGs), which are due to be adopted at the summit later this month.

They welcomed the IPU stated goal of ending poverty and promoting global peace, equality and the well-being of the people and the planet.