Will the proposed 2/3 Gender Bill pass or fail?
This is the question many are asking even as lobbying for and against the proposed Two-Thirds Gender Bill has gained momentum ahead of Wednesday’s sitting when MPs are expected to cast their votes.
Both President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party and the Raila Odinga-led Nasa coalition are expected to separately hold Parliamentary Group meetings to rally their MPs to support the bill.
The bill requires a two-thirds majority, or 233 of the 349 MPs in the National Assembly, to amend Article 97 of the Constitution and pave way for additional nomination slots for women other than the current 12.
Jubilee has 140 MPs followed by ODM with 62.
Currently, there are 76 women in the National Assembly — 23 elected MPs, 47 woman representatives and six nominated MPs. The Senate has 21 women senators who include 19 nominated and three elected members. The National Assembly has 349 members while the Senate has 67.
Across the political divide are both male and female MPs who do not support the bill which they have described as “designed to benefit political party bosses”.
Some are under pressure from their constituents to reject the bill on grounds it will increase the wage bill. Others argue that women who are already in positions of leadership have done little to justify the need for extra free seats for women.
Despite frantic efforts by the top leadership of political parties including Uhuru, Deputy President William Ruto, Nasa leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi uncertainty still clouds the mood in Parliament.
“Some are just supporting it on the floor of the House, including me, but in reality when these people meet they act opposite. Some women MPs are also unhappy with lobbying,” said one MP who sort anonymity
But will the MPs defy their party leaders? During the vote on the controversial Finance Bill which was supported by both Uhuru, Ruto and Raila, MPs from across the board had promised to defeat the pressure from their leaders but eventually caved in.
Uriri MP Mark Nyamita said he will vote against the bill because women are the majority of voters and therefore should be able to get many women in political positions.
“We need to encourage women to be politically aggressive without putting the burden on tax payers by ensuring they use their numbers in voting,” Nyamita said.