Martha Karua addressing KEWOPA members in Naivasha on Friday (Photo / Kenya Broadcasting Corporation)
Kenya has been ranked position six in the East Africa region in terms of women represantation.This implies that Kenya has the least woman representatives despite the two third rule enacted by the constitution of Kenya 2010.This came to light in the opening day of a three day ceremony of Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) in Naivasha on Friday.KEWOPA indicated that Rwanda leads the pack with 61 per cent followed by Tanzania (36), Burundi (36), Uganda (34) and South Sudan at 28.5 per cent. In Kenya, there is 22% and 31% women representatives in the National assembly and Senate respectively.In a speech read by Uasin Gishu Senator, Margret Kamar on behalf of the Senate Speaker, Kenneth Lusaka during the event, he said the number of women in Parliament was gradually rising in both Houses, standing at 23.6% currently up from 20.6%.The Uasin Gishu Senator challenged women parliamentarians to work work together to achieve the two third gender impasse."As women, we should work together so that we can address challenges facing us and achieve various goals," she said.Narc Kenya Chairperson, Martha Karua speaking at the event urged women Leaders that the two third gender rule could met if they put aside their political differences and embrace their male counterparts for support."The country has come from far in terms of increasing number of women in parliament and we should challenge both Jubilee and NASA to make sure we achieve this," she said.