'Women to gain most from BBI'

A team of Kanu and Maendeleo ya Wanawake leaders yesterday urged Kenyan women to play a leading role in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional change process. 

The women, drawn from Baringo, Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties said they will be the biggest beneficiaries if the proposed law is passed.

They were part of a delegation led by Baringo Woman Representative Gladwel Cheruiyot who met Zipporah Kittony, the former Senator and former Maendeleo ya Wanawake chair.

Kittony asked the women to unite in championing for the BBI constitutional review proposals. She said the 2010 Constitution did not capture most issues that women had championed for. "Now, under BBI we have 47 seats for women in the Senate." 

She urged women to work with the government for their interests to be taken care of and said the BBI process will guarantee an equal representation of women and men in Parliament. “It is only upon us (women) to unite and make ourselves relevant in the national agenda. Women can play a critical role in development,” she said.

Cheruiyot said supporting the Handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga will vigorously campaign for constitutional changes. She hailed her party Kanu and its leader Gideon Moi for taking the lead in sensitising Kenyans through town hall meetings.

“We know the BBI document is not perfect but there will always be corrections in future. We support it for the benefit of all Kenyans. I am a Woman Rep and my position will be scrapped by the BBI process, and I still support it for the benefit of the next generation.”

National vice chair Anne Kibet said women will be guided by experienced women politicians. "We thank senior women leaders led by Zipporah for guidance. She is mentoring us and we are following in her footsteps," she said.