Less than five months to the next general election and different players are cementing their positions in the race. Some of those players are women, who make 51% of the electorate and who, through a movement dubbed ‘2017 Ni Mama’ intend to consolidate and push for greater representation of women in the political sphere. Gladys Gachanja was at the launch of the movement and now brings us the women’s political stand in this week’s Women and Power.
Caught on News Archives - Page 7 of 8 - CREAW KENYA
On Friday 10th March, 2017 CREAW working with partners( CRAWN TRUST, Kenya Human Rights Commission and the National Women Steering Committee) launched the Ni Mama movement. This was the largest convention of women political leaders ever held in Kenya. The convention brought together over 3,500 women leaders from all over Kenya and from different political parties to make a declaration on Women Leadership and to claim power. The women vowed to stand together and and vote for women regardless of party affiliations. The women presented a policy document that set part of their demands for the government. Key among this demands were the need to have 50-50 gender representation in all party positions. #Nimama2017
Tens of children across the country are still suffering horrific sexual abuse, but their attackers are roaming free because of hurdles placed on the road to justice.
Investigations by the Saturday Nation show that the children aged between two and 12 are more likely to be attacked by their next door neighbours, house helps, or in some cases, their own parents.
Delegation from Finland joins Kibera women and children in painting a mural depicting the support provided to survivors of Gender Based Violence.
View More
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
Keeping the promise campaign launches in Narok County
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.
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.
, 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.
Women’s issues continue to matter now more than ever because a huge gender gap exists in many parts of the world today.
CAUGHT ON NEWS: Documentary on the Access to justice Programme that seeks to address issues with unequal access to justice through various strategies e.g. Legal representation, capacity building of community members, working through smart networks and partnering with #GBV (Gender Based Violence) service providers.
#IamTheSolution #SolutionsBaraBarani #WomenEmpowerment #AccessToJustice