Eleven years after the promulgation of the Constitution, representation of women in Parliament remains a mirage.
This is despite demands by Article 27(8), which requires that no more than two thirds of any public institution should be from one gender.
In 2012, the Supreme Court directed the government to progressively implement the gender rule.
In October 2020, the then Chief Justice David Maraga (now retired) advised President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve Parliament over non compliance with the two-thirds gender rule. Uhuru ignored the advise.
That's why last week's stand by the electoral commission to lock out parties that don't meet the gender rule in its nominations is laudable. It is a step in the right direction to ensure the provision is complied with.
Going by media reports, big parties, including Jubilee, ODM, UDA, ANC and Narc, did not meet the two-thirds gender rule.
Though it is not easy to achieve it, parties have a duty to, at the very least, make an effort to comply with the rule.
One way of achieving this is for parties to come together and have an agreement where they all nominate women candidates for select parliamentary and Senate seats. This will ensure the number of women in Parliament increases over time.
It is better they start the progressive implementation of the rule now than wait.
