Mbarire questions Ruto on two-thirds gender rule in NADCO report

Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire on Tuesday interrupted President William Ruto during a joint parliamentary group meeting on the NADCO report to raise concerns over the absence of the two-thirds gender rule.

As President Ruto addressed the meeting from the podium, Governor Mbarire requested to speak, highlighting that the report and the recommendations of the Agnes Zani-led Nadco committee did not guide the matter.

“I’m sorry, I have to speak before you come down the podium. Please say something about the two-thirds gender rule. It is silent in this report; even under the recommendations of the Zani committee, they are silent about the way forward. It is not there,” she said.

Ruto responded, assuring her that the issue was included. “It is there, it is there, Cec. Can somebody read out the report? It is in item number one, the constitutional amendment. We cannot make such a fatal mistake,” he said.

Governor Mbarire pressed further, stressing the importance of the pronouncement for women across the country.

“You know, Sir, how critical this matter is. Your pronouncement means a lot to the women of this country. It is important that this is mentioned right here and now, sir, respectfully,” she said.

President Ruto then elaborated on the government’s approach, explaining that a broad-based mediation committee is necessary to ensure consensus on proposed constitutional amendments, including the two-thirds gender rule, across both the National Assembly and the Senate.

“Part of the reason we propose a mediation committee is to agree on a common position regarding the constitutional amendments, including the two-thirds gender rule. I want to make it clear: this Parliamentary Group supports the two-thirds gender rule in its entirety, honestly, Cec, we are all in,” he said.

The five-member committee on the implementation of the 10-point agenda agreed upon by President Ruto and the late ODM leader Raila Odinga released its report on Tuesday, making a wide array of recommendations on policies, legislative and institutional issues that require further action.

The committee, led by Zani, arrived at the recommendations after extensive stakeholder consultation across the country through public forums and submissions through memoranda.

"Based on these engagements, the committee notes that there is progressive implementation of the  10-point agenda, although several policies, legislative and institutional issues require further action to enhance effectiveness and delivery," the committee said.

Key among its 11 overall recommendations is the formation of a broad-based mediation committee between the Senate and the National Assembly to fast-track outstanding Bills as well as enhance protection of protesters by enacting new laws that guarantee respect of Article 37 of the constitution.

"The National Police Service should be resourced and supported to strengthen continuous training and retooling of the police for effective crowd management in accordance with the rule of law," the report noted.