We want more senior positions, minister says

By Ally Jamah

Women have renewed calls for more representation in senior positions.

Public Health and Sanitation Minister Beth Mugo Monday said Kenya trails in the region in terms of the number of women in top Government positions.

"We only have six Cabinet ministers and 22 members of Parliament while countries like Rwanda have 50 per cent representation in Parliament and Cabinet. Rwanda emerged only recently from a devastating civil war," she said.

Mugo was speaking when she officiated the International Women’s Day celebrations in Kibera, yesterday, attended by Cherrie Blair, the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"Even Tanzania and Uganda have better women representation in both Parliament and Cabinet," she added

Kenya has 10 per cent women representation in Parliament, Uganda 29 per cent and Tanzania 21.

In Cabinet, Kenya has 14 per cent representation while Uganda has 20. "I encourage women not to shy away from seeking positions of political leadership," she said.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo assured that the draft constitution would ensure they get their rightful place in society.

"Under Article 21 part 3, women have been classified as a vulnerable group, which will ensure that they get special attention from the Government while Article 27 guarantees them equal access to opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres" he said.

Victory for women

Mutula criticised the Cabinet for rejecting the Family Protection, Marriage and Matrimonial Property Bills presented by Minister for Gender, Children and Social Development Esther Murugi.

Mrs Blair said women should be helped out of violent and abusive relationships through programmes that give them economic independence.

"Many women are trapped in destructive relationships simply because they are not financially stable enough to walk away," she said.

She said the Government should "unleash the potential" of Kenyan women by involving them in economic and political life of the nation. "Women know how to make homes, businesses and nations to work. It is smart economics to have women in senior positions in the Government and private sector," she said.

Swedish Ambassador Ann Dismorr said the move to do away with the National Commission on Gender and Development in the proposed constitution was fraught with peril.

"We are concerned that the agenda of women could be lost in the proposed Human Rights and Equality Commission," she said.