Outgoing Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi at a past event. [Photo/Loudest Gist]
Outgoing Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi has revealed why the MPs failed to pass the two-thirds gender rule before going on recess in readiness for the 2017 general election.
On Monday, Muturi told a delegation of European Union election observers that some of the lawmakers had failed to sail through the party primaries and thus lost momentum in passing the law.
“After the primaries, members who had lost had no interest in House sessions. It became very difficult to pass the rule since it requires 233 members. The Speaker has no say on the voting, he's only a spectator. Indeed, we need to involve more and more women and youth in the political leadership of this country,” said Muturi as quoted by the Star.
The Speaker said the 11th Parliament tried to explore all means to ensure the rule was passed in vain. He thus tasked the 12th Parliament to prioritise the matter once it convenes.
He at the same time castigated the 10-member EU team that met him in his office at Parliament Buildings to ensure their countries such as the UK and the US, also realise the gender rule before pointing fingers at Kenya.
“As you all know, Rome was not built in a day. We have tried to pass this rule although it was a bit late. We need to begin early if possible. However, whenever my US friends tell us to implement the gender principle, I always encourage them that you should also improve on the issue since you have been independent for more than 246 years,” he added.
The US, Muturi stated, has only 18 per cent representation compared to Kenya’s 19 per cent.
He said he could have petitioned the Chief Justice David Maraga to advise President Uhuru to dissolve Parliament over its failure to meet the gender principle.
“Imagine, as the Speaker, I would have shot myself in the foot. That’s why I left it for any Kenyan to petition,” he concluded.