The Center for Multi-Party Democracy has petitioned the government to implement the 2/3rd gender rule for inclusivity as stipulated in the 2010 Constitution. In a meeting dubbed The Common Women Agenda meeting that brought together leaders, and other son common ground, they said that the Building Bridges Initiative report released last month presented a unique opportunity for women in Kenya to pursue structural, institutional and governance reforms that will secure equity and equality.
While speaking to the press in the meeting, Public Service, Youth and Gender CS Margaret Kobia revealed that the actualization of the 2/3rd gender principle has not been dealt with for almost 10 years.
“But as you are all aware, actualization of this principle has not been successful for almost 10 years after the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. Representation of women in public leadership, elective or otherwise, remains low. The same gloom is experienced in the private sector,” she said.
In a cardinal responsibility which the meeting’s participants want to consolidate and popularize as the Common Women’s Agenda, they promised to include positive engagement and harmonization of many voices into one message, including women at the grassroots level and County Assemblies.
Jubilee party secretary general Raphael Tuju, who was also in attendance, urged women to amplify their voices. “The Common Women Agenda will allow women to fight for their space in leadership. Nobody will give you what you want if you cannot take the initiative as women of this country to amplify your voices,” he said.
Written by Elias Wekesa