Women leaders vow to fight for elective posts

A section of women leaders have vowed to fight for their positions through elective posts in the forthcoming General Election.

Speaking during a fundraising meeting at Kimanjo Primary School in Laikipia North, Laikipia County Nominated MP Sarah Lekorere said they would empower women in the country to secure more seats in the 2017 General Election.

Her sentiments were echoed by Kajiado East legislator Peris Tobiko and URP National Deputy Secretary, Leah Ntimama, who said women have the power to push the development agenda in the country.

The declaration comes barely a week after the National Assembly failed to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2015 that seeks to comply with Articles 27(8) and 81(b) of the Constitution of Kenya which stipulate that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender.

The Bill was shot down in Parliament after failing to garner two-thirds of the total votes as per the constitutional threshold, which translates to 233 votes.

The rejection of the gender Bill after months of lobbying sparked different reactions from the lawmakers, with some of the male MPs claiming that the Bill was an affront to democracy, as it would mean giving women “free seats”.

Out of the 199 members present in Parliament, 178 voted for the Bill, 16 against it with five abstentions.

By Elizabeth Asasha