Duale Wages War Against Female MPs in 50-50 Gender Bill Row

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, on Monday, vowed to shoot down the 50-50 gender representation in all government levels lobbied by a group of female politicians.

His utterances came barely two weeks after female MPs, under the Embrace Group, agreed to disregard Mr Duale's two-thirds gender bill pledging to pursue their new agenda through the Building Bridges Initiative.

The seemingly disgruntled MP further revealed that he would not postpone the vote for his gender bill as proposed by the women leaders.

“Tell those women who met at Serena Hotel that this bill is mine. They can go anywhere they want but the bill will be voted on. As far as I know, there is no bill that belongs to women, the current bill is under my name and my signature and I can do what I want with it,” stated Duale.

He also took the opportunity to disclose that the House Business Committee (HBC) would come up with a date, after the National Assembly resumes operations on Tuesday afternoon, on which MPs would vote on the two-thirds gender bill.

“We are going to meet as HBC and make a decision as to when to vote for the gender bill, probably next week,” he remarked.

During the address, the vocal politician further revealed that President Uhuru Kenyatta had given him firm instructions to ensure that his bill sails through.

He further praised the handshake between Uhuru and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga which had made it easier for him to push the agenda.

In November 2018, Parliament postponed voting on the bill dubbed "crucial" after the MPs failed to raise the numbers necessary to pass it.

ODM leader Raila Odinga and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka were present in Parliament, at the time, in support of the bill.