Episode 80: The Two-Thirds Gender Principle
The Constitution of Kenya (2010) has multiple provisions that govern representation, but the two-thirds gender principle has been the most difficult to implement. Article 27(8) states that the State shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender. Article 81(b) states that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender. Article 175(c) also states that no more than two-thirds of the members of representative bodies in each county government shall be of the same gender.
It has been 8 years now since we passed the constitution, but we have yet to enact legislation that enforces these constitutional provisions. Today, we’re joined by Marilyn Kamuru, a lawyer, writer and consultant, to talk about how this refusal to enact this principle has put Kenya in a constitutional crisis. Press play!
Resources
Where Women Are: Gender & The 2017 Kenyan Elections
MPs divided over Bill as lobbying steps up
Uhuru urges MPs to pass the two-thirds gender Bill tomorrow
Uhuru, Raila appeal to MPs as gender bill goes to the vote
A Gender Analysis of the 2017 Kenya General Elections
OUR UNLAWFUL LAWMAKERS: Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Gender Principle
Why we cannot change the Constitution without violating it
Flower Girls, Girlfriends and Sexist Discourse: The Politics of the Two-Thirds Gender Bill
The F-word: The Place of Feminism In Contemporary Kenya
Episode 49: Women and Youth in Kenyan Politics
3 thoughts on “Episode 80: The Two-Thirds Gender Principle”
This is one of the most informative podcasts yet on this site. The amount of knowledge you drop here makes you sound like aliens (you and your guests :-))! You leave me feeling excited and sad at the same time.
Excited because I’m getting educated but sad that such knowledge is accessed by so few.
Please keep up this good work and hopefully as more people get educated (through this and suchlike fora) we may find ourselves on a better path than we’ve been on for ages.
Thank you Mutinda, I’m so glad you like it! Be sure to tell your friends about it so that more can listen, and I’ll definitely keep it up. Thank you for the kind words, and stay tuned! 🙂