26 April 2007
Nairobi — Women MPs are unhappy with the proposed Political Parties Bill.
They say the Bill favours male politicians and has not captured the role of women in national politics.
They therefore want it amended to provide for ways of encouraging and supporting women to participate in politics.
At the same time, the MPs through the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (Kewopa), plan to sponsor an Affirmative Action Bill to enhance women representation at all levels of society.
Speaking yesterday on behalf of the 18 women in the current Parliament, presidential hopeful Dr Julia Ojiambo (Nominated, Narc) and Dr Naomi Shaban (Taveta) said the legislators were planning to enlist the support of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Martha Karua to ensure maximum Government backing for the Affirmative Action agenda.
"It is only through the Bill that President Kibaki's directive of 30 per cent women representation in all public leadership position can be effectively realised," said Dr Shaban.
Push the Bill
The MPs hope to push the Bill through before the life of the current Parliament ends.
Dr Ojiambo and Dr Shaban declared the MPs would push through amendments to give the final Political Parties Bill "a national outlook."
Dr Shaban took issue with a clause in the Bill which states cash for the Political Parties Fund may be provided by the minister of Finance in the annual estimates. She said the Bill should make it mandatory for the Government to fund political parties.
Being the majority of the Kenyan electorate, the MPs said, women should be encouraged to take part in political activities.
Dr Ojiambo and Dr Shaban were participants at a forum organised by the Centre for Multi-Party Democracy to discuss the gender aspect in the Political Parties Bill.
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