Nyachae: So what holds women from seeking big positions?

By Lucianne Limo

A constitutional crisis could be in the offing after women shied away from applying for top constitutional jobs already advertised, analysts have said.

The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution and the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee have raised alarm that women are not applying for the plum jobs.

"The Commission is concerned that, if not nipped in the bud, the issues may impede if not derail implementation of the Constitution," said CIC chairman Charles Nyachae.

And CIOC chairman Abdikadir Mohammed said only 10 per cent of applicants to various commissions already set up were women.

Regina Mwatha, the National Commission on Gender and Development chair and CIC deputy chair Elizabeth Muli (right) during a conference on women and the Constitution in Nairobi, Wednesday. [PHOTO: MOSES OMUSULA/STANDARD]

"CIOC has declared gender challenge as the key impediment to the implementation of the Constitution," Abdikadir told a conference for women MPs and civil society leaders at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

The Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act, passed less than five months ago, is back in the Parliament for amendment because the number of applicants to the Vetting Board did not meet the minimum requirement for gender equity.

"There was only one woman applicant and hence the two-third minimum principle could not be met," said Nyachae.

The trend in applications for the positions of Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice also suggest women shied away from topmost positions.

For instance for the post of CJ, only two of ten applicants were women but the position of Deputy CJ got ten women and two men applicants.

Interestingly, the qualifications for both the CJ and Deputy CJ are the same.

The CIC also said the just-concluded police recruitment did not meet the minimum gender requirement as stipulated by the law.

The commission has written to the Ministry of Internal Security to rectify the gender imbalance.

"This is a disturbing precedent and it is my hope this will not be the trend. However, one question remains unanswered: What is inhibiting women? This is a question I would like to seek answers to," he said.

They qualify

National Commission on Gender and Development (NCGD) said women find it difficult to come forward due to our history where men have always taken the top positions.

Abdikadir suggests women shied away from the top positions because they felt they did not have a chance to clinch the job.

Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo said women should feel embarrassed by the turn of events.

"I am shocked my friends Justice Joyce Aluoch, who is a presiding judge at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, and Jeanne Gacheche failed to apply for the post of CJ position yet they qualify," he said.

Gender Minister Naomi Shabaan and Gichugu MP Martha Karua raised concern that even educated women are scared to go for the top jobs.

"Women have been conditioned to believe the secondary place belongs to them," Karua said.

CIC commissioner Catherine Mumma said women are still not aware of their rights and called for civic education.

"Due to historical records, women feel even if they apply for these top jobs, they will not get them," said Eldoret East MP Margaret Kamar.

NCGD chairperson Regina Mwatha said the commission was developing database for professional women detailing their professional skills and experience to correct the imbalance.