“I will only vote for it, if they include the youth, disabled persons and other marginalised groups. They are telling us to vote for women who are not even known at the grassroots level, they are just here in town waiting to be handed seats, that is why I must vote No!,” Apuri declared.
Other MPs opposed to the two-thirds gender bill said they shot it down because they wanted it to be implemented progressively.
MPs Wesley Korir (Cherangany) and Cornell Serem (Aldai) said the Bill’s passage spells dire consequences to the economy and will stir the youth, the minority and marginalised groups to demand similar treatment as women in political representation
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who was present during the historic sitting told reporters that MPs had failed Kenyans in a vote he said was an opportunity for MPs to show their commitment to the Constitution.
“This is a train that has left the station and it will reach its destination. We stand together with our women in this issue, our resolve is unequivocal, it is not about the question of the size of the Parliament but a question of the Constitution that must be implemented in full,” the CORD leader told reporters he addressed outside the Parliament Buildings.
Last Wednesday, 195 MPs voted in favour and 28 against the Bill, while 24 refused to vote which required the support of at least 233 to pass through the Second Reading after which it was to be transmitted to the Senate for consideration and approval.
There were 242 members present during that Sitting.
READ: MPs fail again on two-thirds gender vote but get lifeline
The Bill tabled by Majority Leader Aden Duale sought to top up the number of women in Parliament should the General Election fail to meet the constitutional threshold.
The Duale Bill further provides for the achievement of the gender principle in Parliament within 20 years from the 2017 polls.
It also provides that persons nominated serve for a maximum of two terms.
The National Assembly failed to meet last year’s August deadline for enactment of the law, which would place more women in leadership through affirmative action.
The Constitution states not more than two thirds of members of any elected or nominated institution will be of the same gender.
There are 349 MPs in the National Assembly out of which 68 are women. An additional 73 women are required to meet the one-third threshold.
The Senate has 67 members and requires an additional seven women to the current 18 nominated ones.
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