A lawmaker, while addressing journalists in Parliament today, said he would rally his counterparts not to support the Bill sponsored by Leader of Majority Aden Duale.
In context with the two-third gender rule, Kimilili Mp also pointed out nominated male MPs whose need he doesn’t see in parliament work force.
“I also don’t see the business of nominated male MPs. Whom do the represent? For example, Wilson Sossion and Goddrefry Osotsi. Where Osotsi comes from, they have their MP Ayub Savula. If you are a man, go and campaign and win a seat.”
The lawmaker said the only seats that must be guarded are for people living with disabilities and the youth.
He said the number of women parliamentarians has been increasing in each election – “a sign Kenyans are realising a woman is a better leader than a man”.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has said he will not support the Two-Thirds Gender Bill, terming it a move by ‘slay queens’ who want join Parliament without hard work.
“We can’t just fill Parliament with people, but rather people who will add value. We only want women of substance, those respected in this country, and above all, the Wanjikus, Anyagos and Naliakas must be given an opportunity to decide if they want to be represented by them,” Barasa said.
“We are going to interrogate this Bill and I want to tell the Majority leader that this Bill is dead on arrival.”
Given that it is a constitutional matter, the bill needs a nod from two-thirds of the House to sail through to the next stage.
Drafters of the 2010 Constitution did not want a situation where one gender is overly represented in Parliament.
As such, they stipulated that the National Assembly and the Senate should not have more than two-thirds of their members of the same gender.
“Not more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender,” says Article 81 (b) of the Constitution.
Top politicians have voiced support for the bill that is sponsored by Majority Leader Aden Duale.
Do you agree some male nominated MPs are unnecessary?