Women MPs plan to rally numbers for gender rule

Kenya Women Parliamentary Association members led by their chairperson Cecily Mbarire (centre) address the press on the two-third gender rule. (Photo:File/Standard)

Women fighting for political inclusion have come up with seven principles they insist must be met before they accept any proposal on the political headache that is the two-thirds gender rule.

The goal is to woo men to support the top-up formula to make sure that no more than two-thirds of the people in public bodies are from the same gender. They want a formula that will require “least-intrusive” amendment of the Constitution, and one which will address the concerns about the wage bill associated with a bloated Parliament.

Women MPs say there must be legal measures that help more women vie for political seats in constituencies, and not simply sit back and hope to be nominated, or opt to vie in the women-only seat of county woman representative.

Representatives of the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association, the Centre for Multiparty Democracy and the National Gender and Equality Commission spent last week in meetings with political leaders, government officials and lawyers in their bid to seek support for the rule before the August 27 deadline.

“(We need to take) the path of least resistance especially by male MPs,” said Mbita MP Millie Mabona, the champion of the two-thirds gender rule within the corridors of Parliament. She was speaking after a meeting Wednesday with Speakers of both Houses and Attorney General Githu Muigai. In what looks like a strategy to get a free pass through the House dominated by the ruling Jubilee coalition, the women leaders met Majority Leader Aden Duale and TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja.

An amendment to the Constitution needs to be approved by 233 MPs — two-thirds of all the members of the National Assembly, and at least 45 senators, two-thirds of the Senate — or if a matter touches on counties, then 31 elected senators. The women also brought in Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u and vice chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Lilian Mahiri-Zaja.

“The best formula should propose minimal Constitutional amendments. It should encourage fiscal responsibility by being the least costly either in amendment or implementation. It should first reserve the gains already there,” said Mabona.

Women leaders have also formed “core teams” to spearhead talks with the civil society, politicians at the national and county level, donors and fellow MPs. They will also form specific teams to explain directly to the people why more women have to be in politics.

There will also be a team to keep records, and another one to negotiate and build consensus whenever there are disagreements. “Each core team has a convener with clear objectives and deliverables. For instance, I convene the legislative team. We are working on some amendments to the Elections Act and Political Parties Act amongst others,” said the Mbita MP.

The women leaders have made a vow to make sure the law is enacted in the next 60 days, or if that fails, push for the law to be enacted before Christmas. “We are moving as though we are still operating with the August 27 deadline. Should we not meet the deadline, then we’ll seek a short-term extension, a maximum of only three months,” said Mabona at an earlier news conference she addressed at Parliament Buildings with Senator Agnes Zani.

Bloated wage bill

The two defended the top-up option contained in a Bill signed by Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes) as the only mechanism that will not erase the gains already made. “What Mbarire’s Bill basically does is to ensure that once we go through an election and if we fail to realise the rule, we have a situation where we go through an elective party list using article 92 of the Constitution to ensure we meet the rule. We are behind Mbarire’s option,” said Mabona.

But critics say Mbarire’s Bill will increase the number of MPs in the National Assembly to an unspecified figure, and therefore raise the wage bill without an increase in the value or quality of representation.

Already, there are 418 lawmakers — 349 MPs, 67 senators and two speakers.

The women leaders know it will take time, hardwork and lobbying. In their words, it is like a pregnancy. “It takes a while, but ultimately we will have a baby and beautiful one,” said Mabona.