Political intrigue, chauvinism and apathy contributed to the shooting down a bill that would have given women more seats in the House.

Members of Parliament opposed to the Gender Bill ganged up to boycott the vote, despite months of lobbying for the proposal meant to comply with Article 27 of the Constitution.

Female MPs were left smarting from the defeat conjured up by their male colleagues who said the bill was an affront to democracy, as it would give women ‘free seats’.

Some MPs walked to the National Assembly’s Private Members bar where they sipped beer, hugged and cheered as the Speaker declared the vote lost by failing to meet the two thirds constitutional threshold.

Out of the 199 members present, 178 voted yes, 16 voted no and five abstained. John Njoroge (Kasarani) said he boycotted the vote as the bill gave room for people to nominate their ‘girlfriends’ to the House.