KEWOPA Advocates for Two-Thirds Gender Rule Representation in Parliament

 

The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) has taken a significant step towards ensuring gender parity in the national legislature by endorsing the County Assembly gender principle on a two-thirds representation. The move, announced on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, came during a retreat held in Naivasha, where female Members of Parliament (MPs) discussed strategies to implement the principle and achieve gender balance in Parliament.

One of the main challenges identified at the retreat was the lack of a clear implementation framework, which has hindered the realization of gender equity in the legislative body. KEWOPA is advocating for the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2025, which would establish a structured approach to enforce gender balance.

KEWOPA Chairperson and Kajiado MP, Hon. Leah Sankaire, emphasized the effectiveness of the County Assembly model in achieving gender representation and called on the national Parliament to adopt a similar approach. "We need to borrow from the County Assembly model, which is simple, straightforward, and constitutionally constituted," stated Hon. Sankaire, urging lawmakers to consider this framework as a potential solution to gender imbalance.

The retreat also saw the endorsement of the Multi-Sectoral Working Group’s recommendation to amend Article 177(1)(b) of the Constitution, and to apply the same principle of gender representation to Articles 97 and 98. This would ensure that both the National Assembly and the Senate reflect gender parity.

In addition to these legislative proposals, KEWOPA members expressed concerns over the recent realignment of Parliamentary Committees, specifically the Transport Committee, which currently has only one female legislator. This imbalance has prompted further calls for a more equitable distribution of roles within Parliament.

To facilitate the successful implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, KEWOPA has pledged to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including the President, parliamentary leadership, media, and other key partners. The goal is to foster a collective effort to push for reforms that will pave the way for a more inclusive and representative Parliament.

KEWOPA’s resolution underscores the commitment of female MPs to advocate for systemic changes that will ensure a fairer and more balanced representation of women in Kenya's legislative processes.

March 19, 2025