Use your positions to push women agenda, female parliamentarians urged

Viet Nam: A women Parliamentarians’ meeting kicked off at the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The meeting themed Parliament for gender Equality: Priorities for Beijing +20 and beyond was opened by Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President of the meeting and the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Viet Nam.

The meeting on Status of Women, jointly conducted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women was attended by over 200 Women Members of Parliament among them three Kenyan Women Parliamentarians, Hon. (Dr.) Susan Musyoka, County MP, Machakos, Hon. Soipan Tuya, County MP, Narok, and Hon. (Sen.) Catherine Mukiite

The  21st meeting of Women Parliamentarians  during the 132nd IPU Assembly on 28th March 2015  highlighted some of the progress made in women development including, government representation in high positions, political leadership,  economic progress, education and social progress in the Journey to realizing the women empowerment agenda.

It was noted that though there has been tremendous progress for women in leadership in many countries in Africa after the 1995 Beijing conference, women Parliamentarians needed to use their political power to change the global mindset on the role of women in development.

It was also observed that the rights of children and women in the world have been realized and recognized in the constitutions of various jurisdictionsin most Nations of the World.

Global statistics indicate that about 30% of women are now in power in various countries of the World with Kenya having six Women leaders in the Cabinet of the current government and86sitting Women Parliamentarians.

Previously, nearly two-thirds of countries in 1995 had less than 10% women in their single or lower Houses in Parliament.  In the recent past, about 2.8% of Parliaments had attained the 30% or more representation. This year, only 20% of Countries had less than 10% women Parliamentarians which is reported to be a great milestone.

Presenting at the forum, Hon. Senator Catherine Mukiite applauded the government of Kenya for great achievements in supporting women in power through the adoption of the The Constitution of Kenya 2010. She quoted Article 27 (8)  which provides for affirmative action where the State is obligated to take legislative and other measures to ensure that no more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender thus giving more Women leaders an opportunity to serve the Nation.

“Kenya has made great progress in the development of Woman 20 years on after the Beijing convention. The Kenyan Parliament now has 87 sitting Women Members of Parliament from just 22 Women MPs in the previous 10th Parliament”, Said Sen. Mukiite.

In her presentation she emphasized that there is need to continue supporting the current progress made in women empowerment through various initiatives including the Beyond Zero campaign led by the First Lady of Kenya, Margret Kenyatta, the Table Banking initiatives led by Rachael Ruto, the Youth Empowerment Fund through the Ministry of Devolution as well as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) managed by Members of Parliament in Kenya.

While contributing on the topic, Hon. (Dr.) Susan Musyoka also added  that even though there have been great strides in women leadership in Kenya, the current County governments in Kenya  have no gender balance as they are all governed by Men who in some cases may not understand the hidden silent needs for women.

Discussing about water as a critical resource for development, Hon (Dr.) Musyoka indicated that water legislation is a critical element in the Kenyan government as proper water management and distribution would contribute to high levels of hygiene and good health.

Water problem in Kenya and other regions of the worldhas adversely been caused by effects of climate change which is now a global challenge. The Kenyan delegation yesterday presented an emergency item for discussion in the Assembly of the IPU forum.

Current statistics indicates that only 20% of the Kenyan population has access to clean piped water. As water is critical to development, the low figures are a worrying trend as women and children are tasked in the provision of water in their families.

“Women and children spend a lot of time looking for water, most of them in dangerous environment that expose them to vulnerable situations as indicated in recent reports in the media in some parts of Kenya. Thus, this calls for reason to come up with commitments and enhanced strategies of water provision in most countries in Africa”, Said (Hon) Dr. Musyoka.

Hon. Soipan Tuya, County MP, for Narok noted the fact that Kenya is ranked in position 72out of 142 Countries in terms of the number of women in Parliament with the National Assembly standing at 19. 7% and the Senate at 26.5%.This progress notwithstanding, Hon Soipan called for Parliaments to continue being vigilant and constantly engaging in action to continue to trigger progress and steer reforms from the current 30% Constitutional gender equity threshold and aim at gender parity. Hon Soipan also stated that it is important for Kenya and the world to underscore the fact that gender Equality has a direct consequence in improvement of the world economies and improving peoples livelihoods. She recognized the huge contributions of the Kenya Women Parliametary Association, (KEWOPA) on legislations  concerning women and children saying that KEWOPA is key in the journey towards achieving women empowerment in Kenya. 

Women Parliamentarians have called for enhanced reforms and interventions to enable realization of the Beijing Platform For Change goals (1995)to make the world a women friendly environment: which needs to ensure gender equality remains a political priority with adequate resources, promote gender parity in politics, continue to fight violence against women empowerment and engage men in a more strategic manner on gender equality.