The fact that no single woman MP was elected in the crucial House Committees in the 10th Parliament speaks volumes to an institution that is supposed to pass laws which are amenable to every Kenyan.

Yet what Kenyans had hoped was to see a Parliament that embraces diversity in its practice by making sure that at least in every committee there is a women as a member.

Instead women were relegated into the Culinary Committee which further re-emphasises the role of women as care giver  even when at their leadership position and that what their services are best given on issues of food.

The scenario reinforces the believes that men are better at politics than women. Yet women’s participations in politics is not a luxury, but a necessity in that they are best placed to articulate issues affecting women better than men. And since women constitute 51 % of the Kenyan population, should be a reason enough for any institution to seek women views on how policies and laws can be formulated better to serve them.

This is why the advocates of women representation in the governance structure always argue that by having crucial mass of women in leadership positions, any institution will benefit from knowledge that women brings to such a institution. It is sad to note that the House Committee will miss such insights and will rely on women’s comment during Parliamentary debate.

Specific needs of women in areas such as health, education and economic activity are more likely to be given a better understanding on how they affect women by the women MPs at the committee stage. 

The role of women in Parliament and their participation has also been articulated by the Beijing Platform for Action which the Kenyan Government is a signatory to. It states; “Women’s equal participation in decision-making is not only a demand for simple justice or democracy but can also be seen as a necessary condition for women’s interests to be taken into account”. 

 But who can be blamed for women not being elected into the House Committees. Many will argue that women did not lobby enough. But as gender experts will argue; that without a proper policy that guides Palrimentary systems and procedure like the Affirmative Action, many women even in future will still be fighting for their rights even within Parliament itself. 

Even after being in existence for over 100 years, Kenyan Parliament where policies, laws, rules emanate from has been seen as a club of men run by men and many leaders are on record in saying that if women want political leadership, let them fight for it like men. 

The debates on gender equality, affirmative action and good governance have been one of the most pervasive themes in development debates in the recent times. Politics and governance tends to be associated with institutions such as parliament and the bureaucracy. They are about systems and processes.  

In her foreword to 'Women in Parliament: “Beyond Numbers', Frene Ginwala, former Speaker of the South African National Assembly and one of the few women speakers globally, noted: “ While the debate about the enfranchisement of women and participation of women in decision-making often focuses on issues of justice, equity and human rights, the representation of women and the inclusion of their perspectives and experiences into decision-making process will inevitably lead to solutions that are more viable and stratify a broader range of society.” 

If the National Assembly is to be seen as to exist as a useful tool for spearheading unbiased advance in the human structures, systems, processes and procedures then there has to be an attempt towards an effective gender responsive distribution and sustenance of the inherent opportunities.

But governance (the exercise of political power over society), its institutions, its systems and processes are patriarchal in character. 

On the brighter side, the fact that there is high number of women in Parliament shows at a simplistic level to those who grapple with practical needs that women can be leaders. It does not matter what they do or do not do. And that a woman can sit in her rural area and begin to imagine another woman as a Cabinet Minister is important. This is because throughout our lives we have been socialised to believe and experience women as care givers at home. We now have other reference point that says women can go to parliament.