Kenya: National Assembly Speaker Muturi told to apologise

Kisumu women leaders  protest along the streets of Kisumu on June 11 2015 to decry a new upsurge of violence against women in National Assembly and the county assemblies. [PHOTO/COLLINS ODUOR/STANDARD]

Women leaders from Kisumu County have demanded that National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi apologises for 'undermining' them when he suggested that some positions be scrapped.

Nominated MCA Farida Salim said Mr Muturi erred in taking sides over the matter in the House yet he is required to be neutral.

She said it was uncalled for to suggest that the positions of woman representatives and nominated MPs be scrapped, and the seats be replaced with 100 special positions to be created by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

"Muturi should apologise to women for undermining them. It seems he has quickly forgotten that we form half the population of this country. We are not a group of people to be ignored," said Ms Salim.

She said the Constitution is clear on the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, something that has been fought for over 50 years.

"How do you faze out something that you have not implemented? We do not want women to be nominated forever. At some point, the affirmative action will be fazed out after the inequalities are addressed," she said.

Salim who vied for the Kisumu Central Constituency MP seat said until such a time when people will learn to vote in women, the two-thirds gender rule will be upheld.

"Women must be nominated since they have to participate in governance until the day people will learn that they too can lead. We will fight as women to ensure tables will in future be turned and men will be the ones demanding for affirmative action. They should not enjoy our tribulations," she said.

Maendeleo Ya Wanawake County Secretary Jane Ochieng said the Speaker did not talk well as far as the issue is concerned and should apologise.

"I even think that nominations should be purely left for women. There is no way the positions can be scrapped," Ms Ochieng said.

To drive their point home, women in the town held a peaceful demonstration to condemn the issue.

The women, majority of whom are members of Kisumu Women's Leadership Caucus threatened not to vote if the two-thirds gender rule is not respected.

A member of the caucus, Asma Adino, said they voted in the new Constitution to avoid oppression.

"We want the Government to stop harassing women and those violating them should be taken to court and justice served. If the gender rule is not followed we will not vote," she said.

Meanwhile, night clubs and bars in Kondele have up to the end of this week to install sound proof materials or face closure.

The directive is aimed at making all premises playing loud music to comply with the county government's regulations on noise pollution.

In a crackdown expected to be carried out by city askaris before weekend, prostitutes in the area will also face the wrath of the law.