My Beef with Kenya's Parliament
Somehow I had to keep quiet a bit to listen, reflect
and analyze the feedback. But don't I find it naive that a member parliament
can argue that he did not vote for the gender bill because of a message from
FIDA! I have read and reread the FIDA message to members of parliament. But
what is wrong with it? What is wrong with the women and indeed the people of
Kenya reminding their representatives that the country is watching; that women
of this country are watching. Come on guys; I thought we took this people to parliament to represent
us. Is FIDA not representing some constituency and is that constituency not
part of the Kenyan people who are represented in parliament? Are members of
FIDA not citizens of this country and cant they remind their members of parliament
of their obligations? There was no any said threat in that message, and even if
it was to be there, don't the people have the right to put their
representatives on notice? cant we threaten to hold them accountable; cant we
demand that they do somethings right and can't we use our vote, our power as
the ultimate threat to have members of parliament deliver on their mandates?
Why should FIDA be exempt from demanding this very bare minimum? As you can see
I have many related questions and I am obviously not amused. But then again I
am struggling to forgive those women parliamentarians who instead of going to
Parliament to cast that crucial vote chose to accompany the president on his
new found roadside development agenda tours. Well, we have a week to lobby.
Make sure you talk to your member of parliament, remind them to vote for this
bill next week; remind them that this has nothing to do with giving women free
things; nothing to do with making women more powerful; the bill is just a mere
attempt at correcting accumulated injustices against women. Kenya; the regional
big brother; can't we even be ashamed that all other countries in the region
have done far much better in terms of narrowing the gender gap in
representation and other key government positions? Are we so blind to see what
women are doing in other parts of the world in the transformation agenda? Can't
we just step out and see what is happening in Rwanda, for example? Or do we
want to be that team that Obama argued deploys only half of its players and
expect to win?
My Beef with Kenya's Parliament
Reviewed by Ibrahim Magara
on
April 29, 2016
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