The President has once again called for support for the two thirds gender rule saying his administration will have equality and fairness at the core of its pursuits.
Uhuru asked leaders who will be elected to get on board and assured the Judiciary of
full backing by the executive in efforts to entrench gender equity.
“I urge the legislature and the political class that occupies it to be similarly engaged with your great mission, particularly on the issue of gender in representation and the two-third rule,” he said.
Uhuru spoke in Nairobi on Thursday when he officially
opened the International Association of Women Judges Regional Conference, hosted by the Kenya Women Judges Association.
“I am convinced that to reach Africa’s shining destiny of prosperity and security for all, we must simply have women as equal partners in leading and governing ourselves,” he said.
He emphasized that girls and boys must have equal opportunities and protection, and that economic freedom must know no gender.
“We are headed in that direction and I am proud to say that my administration will continue to pull hard to lead in this regard, and to listen closely to women from all walks of life,” he said.
The President pointed out that Kenya will not be as prosperous or as fair as it aims to be if half the population is disadvantaged and haunted by discrimination.
“That is why I have insisted that my administration must further the cause of gender equality and the empowerment of women in particular."
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The President highlighted efforts for fairness by his administration, including
establishing a fully-fledged State Department of Gender Affairs and funding initiatives to equalise socio-economic opportunities for women.
He also mentioned
the Women Enterprise andUwezo fund, the
free maternity services programme for public hospitals, the passing of Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 2015 and the National Policy on Prevention and Response to Gender Based Violence, 2014.
Uhuru also noted the representation of women in the top leadership of the executive branch.
“We are passing laws and crafting legislation but we must aim to do more to implement the fine ideas and sentiments that they express. The Judiciary is a point of strength in this regard,” he said.
But National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso said in May 8 that she feared the gender rule will not pass and asked partners and leaders to start looking for "plan B".
Laboso said topics on women are a "no-go zone" in Parliament and that threats and court rulings are matter.
"We know how the House is run. We have less hope about the bill but are hopeful that new mechanisms will push our male counterparts to implement it," she said.
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The President commended KWJA for its role in transforming the country into a vibrant multi-party democracy with an independent Judiciary.
“These are great victories for our people, achieved through peaceful reforms that we cannot separate from your steadfast conviction that the Rule of Law must be protected and deepened.”
Uhuru also praised justices Effie Owuor, Joyce Aluoch and Rosslyn Nambuye for founding the association. He said their cause not only advanced the position of Kenya’s female jurists but also stood for the principle of gender equality which is important for progress.
“You have enriched citizenship and the structure and conduct of government,” he said.
Chief Justice David Maraga said the Judiciary has made tremendous progress in advancing gender equality and that gender parity has been one of the key objevtives.
“According to our latest institutional demographic survey (2016), out of 4326 employees in the Judiciary (judges, magistrates and staff), 2032 are women. This, in the ratios of men to women, is about 53 per cent to 47 per cent,” said the Chief Justice.
Maraga pointed out that five years ago, the Judiciary had no female Court of Appeal judge but that today, seven out of 20 are women.
“Of the 157 judges we have, 66 are women and 91 men. This means women judges constitute 42 per cent of the total number
in our superior courts,” he said.
Maraga also noted that out of 422 magistrates, 214 are male while 208 are women.
Other speakers included IAWJ chairperson Susana Medina and KWJA chairperson Justice Hannah Okwengu.