Dr. Ida Odinga, wife to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has set the tone for women in issuing conditions on the proposed amendments to the constitution, to include a 50-50 per cent share in positions between both genders. Speaking during the International Women’s Day in Angurai, Teso North Sub County, the women said they are no longer interested in the gender bill after male Members of Parliament shot it down. “We don’t want to hear of two-thirds or a third gender rule. What we are demanding now is the share of positions with men on an equal basis and no turning back in our pursuit for justice,” Dr. Ida said.
Other women who rejected the current gender threshold arrangements include Busia Woman representative Florence Mutua, Nominated Senators Emma Mbura, Rose Nyamunga and East African Legislative Assembly Member Fatuma Gedi. Dr Ida also said the shooting down of the gender bill due to lack of quorum was a shame. “My MP waved at me and walked out without voting. I have marked him for letting me down.”
Ida thanked Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong for observing the gender rule in his cabinet and urged other Governors across the country to emulate the Busia Governor.
Governor Ojaamong said he has been observing gender parity since his tenure as MP when he pushed for the nomination of the first Busia Municipality Mayor and chair Teso County Council. “In the current cabinet, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance and the Chief Officer are women. I appointed three women as CEC Members out of 10 in the current cabinet and five chief officers,” he said.
Nominated Senator Emma Mbura told fellow women to confine men to only MCA seats in 2022 elections. Dr Ida instead told women to go for all seats those for MCAs, noting that they need to push for motions which can raise residents’ standards of living.