The discussions surrounding the 2/3 gender bill seem to be gaining momentum with each day that pass. Many members of Parliament have threatened to shut down the bill with many openly opposing it while some have avoided the Parliamentary debates all together.
It seems like President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition Chief Raila Odinga have seen danger ahead and have decided to act swiftly.
The two have called for an urgent meeting with their members of parliament in a bid to solve the puzzle behind the Gender bill. It is expected that the two leaders will drum support for the bill by urging their Members of Parliament to support it.
Jubilee and ODM are the two biggest parties in the House and their support is crucial to the bill sailing through. Jubilee has 140 MPs followed by ODM with 62.
Those opposed to the bill claim it will open a door for “slay queens to slay or massage their way into the national assembly”.
Others have described it the epitome of laziness in complying with the constitutional requirement. But the women lobby has put up a spirited fight in defence of the bill.
The bill is set to be put to vote on Wednesday next week. It 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 and ODM have called Parliamentary Group meetings on Tuesday to try and whip their MPs to attend Wednesday’s sitting and approve the proposed amendment which will see another 21 women nominated to Parliament.
The Bill requires the support of 233 MPs (two thirds of all the members) to pass. If it sails through and the President assents to it, it will be effective after the 2022 General Election.
A section of lawmakers have however been cagey on whether they support or are opposed to the two-third gender principle for fear of being blacklisted by their political parties and their electorate.
“If I say I support this principle, my people will think that I am one of those who want to increase the wage bill of this country. But if I say I don’t support it, I will have a hard time with my party leadership. I reserve my comments and wish to make my decision during the voting,” an MP said.
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
Do you think President Kenyatta and Raila Odinga will be able to rally their troops to unanimously vote for the bill?