Women MPs intensify lobbying for two-thirds gender bill

Women leaders have admitted that convincing male MPs to pass a law allowing at least a third of elected MPs to be of either gender is an uphill task but vowed to soldier on.

Speaking in Nairobi Thursday, Kenya Women Parliamentary Association Chairperson Cecily Mbarire said it will be no mean task to persuade two-thirds of MPs to pass the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2015 sponsored by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale.

"So far about 61 male MPs are on our side. We are lobbying hard to win others into our cause because without them, this bill will not pass. We want the bill to be a priority when it returns to Parliament," she said.

She added: "We urge women across the country to pressure their MPs to support it so as to enable women to enjoy their rightful place in the political sphere."

Ms Mbarire said they want the bill to be law before the end of this year.