Kenya lags in attaining two-thirds gender rule 14 years later

As Kenya celebrates 14 years since the promulgation of the 2010 constitution, the gender principle is yet to be attained, experts say.

Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) Executive Director Ann Ireri says lack of political goodwill is the main hindrance to attaining the two-third gender rule.

Ireri spoke during a sensitization forum organized by the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF).

“We are now looking at the political players, it’s now a question of political will. Kenyans are looking to political parties, they are the ones with the biggest task of being able to at least nominate women to fill the threshold,” Ireri said.

Ireri emphasized that the Kenyan populace can't be truly represented without the full participation of women in governance.

She noted that women's participation at the National Assembly is short of 50 and two at the Senate.

However, the County assemblies have been able to comply.

The two-thirds gender rule, enshrined in the 2010 Constitution under Article 27(8), mandates that not more than two-thirds of appointive and elective bodies should be of the same gender.

“We do urge particularly the political players to come out and clearly articulate to the country the roadmap we have towards attaining the principle,” she urged.

 Further article 81(b) states that the electoral system shall comply with the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender.

Ireri also urged the media to help in highlighting election-related gender issues including political party discrimination that usually go unaddressed.

AMWIK Executive Director, Queenter Mbori also concurred calling on the media to support women eyeing leadership by providing them with a platform to articulate their issues.

“The path to achieving the two-thirds gender rule requires concerted efforts among all stakeholders. The media plays a crucial role in advancing the tenets of diversity, inclusion, and equality. We aim to continue to use our voice and platforms to debunk the myths surrounding the Two-Thirds Gender Rule,” said Mbori.

FNF Country Director Stefan Schott also called for the rights of women; “We believe that democracy can not work if one part,  50 per cent of the society is not fully represented and the two-thirds gender rule is a co-element of that.”

Since 2010, at least 11 bills have been introduced in the National Assembly in a bid to operationalize the rule but none have succeeded in passing into law.

Today as the country celebrates 14 years since the promulgation of the constitution dubbed Katiba Day, there are at least 7 elected women Governors, 30 women Members of Parliament, and 114 ward representatives.