THE STANDARD
POLITICS
President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister display a copy of BBI Report during the presentation at Kisii State Lodge. [PSCU]
The push for constitutional review entered the homestretch on Tuesday after Senate overwhelmingly passed the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 setting stage for the two last steps.
The Senate essentially forwarded the Bill to voters to make the final decision at a referendum expected to be scheduled soon by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The House attained a rare two-thirds majority after 51 senators voted in support of the Bill, 12 voted against while nominated Senator Mary Seneta abstained.
THE STANDARD
POLITICS
Wajir Governor Mohammed Abdi (L) accompanied by his County Secretary Abdullahi Hassan when they appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee over audit queries at Parliament [Boniface Okendo, Standard]
Senate has constituted an 11 member select committee to probe the impeachment charges brought against embattled Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi.
The members will seek to substantiate claims of gross violation of the Constitution and subsidiary laws and abuse of office.
The team comprises Senators Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Paul Githiomi (Nyandarua), Christine Zawadi (nominated), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Mithika Linturi (Meru), Hargura Godana (Marsabit), Okong’o Omogeni (Nyamira), Fred Outa (Kisumu) Agnes Muthama (Machakos), Petronilla Were (nominated) and Issa Juma Boy (Kwale).
In 2013 for instance, a record of 86 women parliamentarians joined the National Assembly, a historical achievement by any measure having come from close to zero representation in the house.
However, long before equality, inclusion, and diversity became common concepts, and women could actively demand space in sectors dominated by males in the country, there was a group that stood out. Their voices and deeds represented what their fellow women desired.
Many barriers blocked them from reaching their goals, but they pressed on and they stand out when it comes to politics.
When politics was politics, there were pioneer women who were trailblazers at a time when it was hard for them to have a voice, but once they stood up to speak even the male dominants remained at bay paying attention to what they had to say.
THE STANDARD By
Grace Ng’ang’a |
March 8th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
The history of women questing for political leadership in the country is an interesting chapter in Kenya’s democratic evolution and shift towards the inclusion of marginalised groups.
There is more to be celebrated than denigrated on the struggle women gone through to have a voice and be heard at a table of men.
Leaders of the feminist movement endured a lot before a way was made for them to have a presence in political leadership.
But the discourse of the feminist struggle has been waning over the years and the women’s movement that was vibrant in the 1970s through to the 1990s, dedicated towards total liberation of women, is now playing lip service to the cause.
Echesa claimed Peter Okuro, the presiding officer, had blocked their party agents from the polling station.
ODM agents were also beaten and injured by rival supporters after they found them with campaigning material and money inside a polling station.
ANC candidate Peter Nabulindo won the Matungu by-election garnering 14,257 votes, trouncing his closest challenger, David Were of Orange Democratic Movement, who got 10,565 votes.
Chaotic scenes were also witnessed in London Ward, Nakuru County, on the voting day as police teargassed a group of leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto.
Antony Nzuki of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) won the by-election with 1,707 votes.