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Female legislators have adopted a new tactic to pile pressure on Parliament so it can pass the controversial two-thirds gender rule.
The lawmakers have decided to wear white head scarves every Wednesday afternoon until the National Assembly passes the crucial legislation.
Yesterday, over 40 legislators caused a stir in the House when they walked into the chamber wearing the scarves, catching their male colleagues, including Speaker Justin Muturi, unawares.
National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale asked the Speaker to issue direction on whether the attire met the threshold of the dress code.
Since 2008
“I have been in this House since 2008 and I have never seen what I am seeing today. Is it within the Standing Orders of dress code? It is very intimidating and threatening. This could be a cult or a sect,” said Mr Duale.
Lugari MP Ayub Savula told the women legislators to push the passage of the gender rule through the laid down procedures and desist from "intimidating us through attire".
But Mr Muturi came to the women's defence, saying: “They look very smart. The dress code is decent and formal, and we should congratulate them.”
Addressing a press conference in Parliament, Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (Kewopa) chairperson Wangui Ngirici (Kirinyaga County) said they had resolved to wear the scarves every Wednesday until the gender law was passed.
She asked President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition chief Raila Odinga to rally their troops in the House to pass the contentious law, which has been shot down three times by members of the National Assembly.
“As elected and nominated women MPs, we are here to tell Kenyans that eight years after we promulgated the new Constitution, only the two-thirds gender rule has not been implemented,” said Ms Ngirici.
Kewopa vice chairperson Rosa Buyu (Kisumu) said Kenyan women had been patient enough.
"It is now time the gender law was implemented," she said. “There is a feeling that we can get away with failing to implement that legislation. Kenyan women voted for the new Constitution in the hope that their welfare will be catered for,” said Ms Buyu.
Cecily Mbarire, the National Assembly deputy minority whip, said they were counting on the support of their male colleagues to pass the law.
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