Will Kenyan legislators follow the Ethiopian example and pass the two-thirds gender rule that is set to be tabled in Parliament today. Kenyan women in government can only wish that the Members of Parliament will finally support them and help the country achieve gender equality especially in governance.
Speaking at a fundraiser at PCEA Berea Church in Gachororo, Juja town, President Uhuru Kenyatta urged the MPs to pass the two-thirds gender rule tabled in the National Assembly. He asked them to fully implement the Constitution by passing the Bill that was proposed by National Assembly Majority Leader, Aden Duale.
According to the President, if passed, the Bill will pave way for women in the country to rise to top government positions as well as achieve gender balance in the country.
“I know some people are saying that the Bill will increase the country’s wage bill but the earlier Bill has been amended and the seats that have been set have decreased according to our constitution. I therefore humbly request the MPs to pass the Bill so that we can prove that we have fully heeded to what our constitution requires of us,” Uhuru said.
Additionally, President Uhuru challenged women to stop waiting to get nominated but instead compete for elective posts against their male colleagues urging them not to be intimidated by competition from men.
“The country is yours, step up and compete with men because you were born with leadership. It’s only that men have instilled you with fear. But this should not worry you anymore because you are actually more in numbers across the country,” said President Kenyatta.
In Kenya, only last year did six women make history by being elected the first female governors and senators. Joyce Laboso was elected as Governor for Bomet county, Anne Waiguru won the race for Governor of Kirinyaga county while Charity Ngilu was elected as Governor for Kitui.
Margaret Kamar, Susan Kihika and Dullo Fatuma Adan were also the first elected female Senators for Uasin Gishu, Nakuru and Isiolo county respectively.
Kenyatta promised to assist more women to clinch elective seats in the next general elections saying that he won’t be seeking votes again.
“You’re the one who voted me in massively and now that I won’t be seeking for your votes again, I will be helping you clinch elective positions in the country,’ Uhuru told Kenyan women.
The President seems to have been inspired after he met with Ethiopia’s Head of State, Sahle-Work Zewde who was appointed as the country’s first female President. President Kenyatta was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 20th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council and 11th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
President Kenyatta congratulated the Government of Ethiopia for the historic political step in electing the first female President in the country adding that it was a pleasure to hold talks with President Sahle-Work Zewde at the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa.
While President Kenyatta has made a few steps to help women obtain top jobs in government such as State House spokesperson, Major General and other ministerial positions, there are still a few gaps that need to be bridged to help the country achieve gender equality.
Do you think the National Assembly will today vote in favour of women in the proposed two-thirds gender rule Bill?