Narok Governor H.E. Hon Samuel Kuntai Ole Tunai pledging to “Keeping the promise campaign” that he will address Gender Based Violence in Narok County with the support of The National Gender and Equality Commission-Kenya, Comic Relief, Christian Aid
An agreement with Her Excellency Ambassador Ferdandez (Embassy of Finland in Nairobi)and Executive Director Wangechi W. Moegi to improve access to justice for women and girls survivors of Gender based Violence in Kibera and its environs for the next 2 years.
With this support Centre for Rights Education and Awareness – Kibera office will continue to provide Legal aid, psychological support, and engage in community dialogues to discuss violence against women and girls.
#WAJIBUWETU #Power2Change Strategy meeting between Political parties & Women aspirants in Meru, Kenya on Electoral Civic Education and #WomenLeadership supported by Forum Syd Kenya
#WAJIBUWETU #Power2Change strategy meeting between Political parties & Women aspirants in Nyeri County on Electoral Civic Education and #WomenLeadership supported by Forum Syd Kenya
In Kenya, one indicator of gender inequality is the small number of women in decision making positions and other national governance structures. Following the March 4th 2013 General elections, at the county level only 82 women out the total 1,450 County Assembly Ward Representatives were elected and only 6 women were successful in their bids as deputy governors. This despite the constitution stating that that one gender cannot make up more than two-thirds of the members of elective public
This month’s newsletter highlights current continous work in the women and leadership program giving an insight on what benefits the skills training has had on the women in terms of influencing their thoughts and actions geared towards bettering their community. From the interactions it was noted that fewer women leaders is a resultant of lack of skilled training aimed at enhancing women leadership.
In September 2015 CREAW – Centre for Rights Education and Awareness – launched a 36 months long project titled Strengthening Women Leadership, with the objective to get more women appointed to positions of leadership. The project focuses on the counties of Meru and Nyeri and relies on constitutional article 81(b), which states that one gender cannot make up more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies.
Mapping of M2M Group activities to best engage them in MNH related advocacy activities at the facility level.
, NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 5 – Two women rights groups are set to file a petition Monday to challenge the conduct of Parliament and the Attorney General with regards to the two thirds gender principle.
The Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) and the National Women’s Steering Committee (NWSC) will be seeking determination if Parliament is acting in the interest of Kenyans, specifically women.
The lobbies further indicate that they want the court to direct that any elective or appointive body following the next General Election which will have more than two thirds of same gender will be unconstitutional and cannot be sworn in nor transact any business.
“If Parliament then fails to enact the requisite mechanism, the group shall then petition for the dissolution of Parliament,” they stated.
They explained that following the failure of Parliament to enact a mechanism to implement the two thirds gender principle, the country is facing the possibility of a constitutional crisis which will affect the outcome of the next General Election.
They stressed the need for the political class to take every measure to ensure the country is not plunged into this crisis by putting in place the necessary mechanism to effect the constitutional principle.
“The principles enshrined in Article 81 (b) on not more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender, is fundamental to the credibility and integrity of the electoral process in as much as article 81 (a, d & e) on freedom of citizens to exercise their political rights,” they pointed out.
Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai had cautioned Parliament of a possible dissolution over their continued failure to pass the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill of 2015 on the two thirds gender principle.
READ: AG warns Parliament of dissolution over failed gender rule
In a letter to Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi and his Senate counterpart Ekwee Ethuro, the AG noted that the law can now only be revisited after six months.
The Constitution required Parliament to enact the law in a bid to give effect to the two thirds gender principle by August 27 last year but it was extended by one year.
He has urged both Houses to urgently convene a stakeholders meeting in a bid to resolve the contentious issues in order to curb an imminent constitutional crisis.
In 2012 the Supreme Court in an advisory opinion pronounced itself clearly saying the two thirds gender rule must be implemented progressively.
The Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill 2015 shot down by the National Assembly sought to amend Articles 97 and 98 of the Constitution to provide for the creation of special seats to top up on the number of elected female legislators.
Two months ago the National Gender and Equality Commission similarly sounded a warning to MPs that it will move to the Supreme Court to declare Parliament illegal for failing to pass the law within the required timeline.
On April 5th and 12th 2016, two workshops were held in Meru and Nyeri respectively, with a view to conduct a skill gap analysis for women leaders in the two counties. An assessment tools was administered to the participants in the two workshops.
