Male MPs have hatched a new plot to block women nomination to the August house.
Some legislators are scheming to amend the Constitution to block elective positions from being subjected to comply with the two-thirds gender principle.
They have proposed to change Article 81 of the Constitution, which requires that “not more than two-thirds of members of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender.”
The proponents want only appointive positions subjected to the two-thirds-gender principle.
The effect of the proposed amendment would be that women might be locked out of nominations to the Senate, National Assembly and county assemblies to bridge the gender gap.
Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut mentioned it was necessary to amend Section 81 so elective positions are exempted from the gender rule.
“This is the way to go to avoid charades that dominate the nomination process. We need integrity in the whole process,” he told The Star.
Turkana South MP James Lomenen, who is leading the scheme to do away with the gender rule in the legislature, said the bill flopped because it was impractical.
He argued that the authority to pick representatives must lie with the electorate.
“The bill was an attempt to disenfranchise Kenyans by imposing leaders on them through the back door. The Constitution envisages a situation where Kenyans must be accorded an opportunity to decide their representatives.”
MPs on Wednesday failed to raise the required quorum to vote on the amendment bill forcing it to be shelved until February next year.
