The Cabinet has approved the constitution amendment Bill that provides for gender representation in parliament.

The amendment dispensed of the issue of the election date and frees members of parliament to discuss the provision of gender equity in the next parliament.

The amendments propose that women will now be nominated from a political party list that will be presented before the elections.

Meeting under the chairmanship of President Mwai Kibaki at State House, Nairobi Thursday, the Cabinet also discussed and approved the Assumption of the Office of the President Bill.

The Bill proposes that there shall be formed a committee that will oversee the assumption of the Office of the President.

The Committee will facilitate the handing-over process by the President to the President-Elect and also coordinate the hand-over process to ensure that it is smooth and efficient. 

A public holiday will be declared on the day the President is sworn-in, in the capital city of Nairobi.

Cabinet also approved the conversion of a loan that was granted to the Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) by the Japanese Government in 1994 into a grant.

The authority has been unable to service the 1.4 billion-shilling loan that was meant for the development of cold storage facilities.  The conversion will improve the financial credibility of the HCDA.

The cabinet also approved the payment of pension to officers who served in the Judicial Service between 1st January 1993 to 30th January, 2003 on ex-gratia basis, based on the Judicial Services and Salaries terms.

Cabinet also approved the implementation of the Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Strategy. The strategy entails the establishment of a Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Council.

The Cabinet noted that tse-tse flies continue to have devastating effects on both human beings and animals in 38 out of 47 counties.  11 million people continue to be under risk.

The strategy and legal framework will ensure Government commitment to the health of the people and livestock in affected areas.