It has emerged that the proposed Gender (amendment) bill 2018 might never see the light of day if a plan by a number of lawmakers goes though.
The voting for the bill that was scheduled for Wednesday this week was deferred to February next year after some lawmakers kept off the parliament, denying it a quorum.
And now it emerges that members opposed to the bill, mainly from Jubilee Party, are planning to introduce a countermeasure to crush the proposal.
According to the Nation on Friday, the members led by Nominated lawmaker David Ole Sankok have drafted a proposal seeking to exempt all elective bodies from the constitutional requirement of the two-thirds gender rule.
“Everything is with the Speaker now. The provision to ensure that elective bodies are subjected to gender rule has denied the people their sovereign power. The amendment seeks to return this power to the people,” Sakok is quoted.
Basically, the proposal which has since been presented to Speaker Justin Muturi for approval means that there shall no longer be an office of the Woman Representative.
The controversial Gender Bill enjoys the backing of President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto, opposition chief Raila Odinga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and the majority of women leaders.
Uhuru has since urged the members to pass the Garissa Township Aden Duale-sponsored bill.
However, it is facing opposition from a number of lawmakers in the house who are of the opinion that women should as well vie for seats like men.