From one woman at a time for most of the past half century to the current hundred-plus elected representatives, Kenya’s legislature has gradually been caught up in the global push for gender equality.
Although voting on the two-thirds Gender Bill is scheduled for this week, the battle to have more women in Parliament has been around for more than 50 years.
Mrs Priscilla Ingasiani Abwao, who was popular in Nairobi’s Ofafa-Jericho Estate, took her seat on February 19, 1961 as the first elected woman MP in Kenya.
She was an activist from Vihiga and was picked by Governor Patrick Renison from two names forwarded to him by the Kenya African Women’s League, the precursor of Maendeleo ya Wanawake.
Kenya news
The other was Ms Margaret Wambui Kenyatta, daughter of founding President Jomo Kenyatta.
She was alone in the House until independence. Thereafter, no woman was nominated for the next 10 years.
Martha Karua and Charity Ngilu are among some more of the women in Kenya who over the recent years have been seen to participate in the political scene and as the world begins to change we have seen other like Millie Odhiambo, rise to fame through politics.
In the most recent constitutional ammendment, there has been an increase of women reps in Kenyan Parliament.
Kenya news: What kenya neighbors ar doing
In Eastern Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Burundi and Uganda have attained over 33 per cent women representation, while Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Yemen have no woman in Parliament.
We don't want to be left behind!
The future is female.
0 Comments