Raila joins Uhuru, DP Ruto in rally for two thirds gender rule

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has urged Members of Parliament to support the two thirds gender rule Bill set to be tabled before the House on Tuesday.

The Bill will come before the House for the second time after it was shot down the first time in a well-calculated move where male MPs embargoed the vote thereby denying the obligatory numbers to have it pass.

In a statement sent to newsrooms on Monday, Mr. Odinga joined President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in rallying support for the Bill.

“Raila Odinga urges all members of parliament to stand up for the Constitution and for women by voting for the Bill when it comes up this week,” reads the statement sent by the former premier’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango.

“Mr. Odinga urges Parliament to take into consideration Kenya’s poor showing on gender parity which goes against not only regional but also global trends, with negative implications for the country’s economic, political and social progress.”

According to Odinga, the two thirds gender rule Bill aims at spearheading the country towards realizing equality as well as freedom from discrimination for women.

The Opposition leader further stated that the Bill is set to enable the country’s gender representation in Parliament to be at par with those of neighbouring countries such as Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.

“The Bill is being re-introduced against a background where Kenya, despite being a dominant political and economic power in the region, remains the only country yet to establish an affirmative action programme for gender representation in Parliament,” added the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party chief.

Voting for the Bill is scheduled for Thursday November 22, 2018.