African Woman and Child Feature Service

Home Programmes Advocacy and Lobbying 1 Million Signature Campaign

1 Million Signature Campaign

In 2007, women in Kenya set up a campaign in support of a Cabinet bill No. 32 that seeks to increase the representation of women in parliament by 50 seats through a Constitutional Amendment. Recalling that previous attempts to pass affirmative action in Parliament had borne no fruits, it is important to support this bill in order to secure a legislative framework that guarantees a women’s quota in Parliament.

The signatures were part of a wider strategy for securing a legislative framework that guarantees the women’s quota in Parliament, although if passed, it would not lead to the agreed national quota of at least 30 percent representation for women at all levels of women. By continental standards, Kenya is still far behind the African Union recommendation of 50 percent representation for women.

At least 40 women’s organizations were organized around a National Steering Committee and a National Women’s Negotiating Team for this struggle and also through the Gender and Governance Programme. Consultative meetings were held with women leaders and political party leaders.Requests were written to religious leaders asking for support and prayers.



The 50 proposed seats for women is about dialogue and participation

E-mail Print PDF
The saying that no nation ever rises above the extent to which it holds its women in bondage; will soon be tested when debate on the 50 additional seats for women kicks off in Parliament next week. Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, the Hon. Martha Karua will table the motion before parliament for debate.
 
 

Face of Gender and Governance in Kenya

E-mail Print PDF

The air at Kamukunji grounds is pregnant with a repugnant smell and the adjacent slums testament to the poverty livid in this region but the residents have an agenda and not even these circumstances can deter them.

They are here to witness the 1,000,000 Signature Campaign in support of the proposed 50 parliamentary seats for women. 

 

Million Signature Campaign - Pictorial

E-mail Print PDF
Pictorial of the Million Signature campaign
 

Launch of 1,000,000 Signatures Campaign for 50 Women Seats in Parliament

E-mail Print PDF

 

Irene Oloo, Hon. Adelina Mwau and Daisy Amdany
Irene Oloo, Executive Director of Kenya League of Women Voters, Hon. Adelina Mwau, Nominated MP and Daisy Amdany of Kenya Women's Political Alliance

 

In the past fortnight women in Kenya have set up a campaign in support of a Cabinet bill No. 32 that seeks to increase the representation of women in parliament by 50 seats through a Constitutional Amendment. Recalling that previous attempts to pass affirmative action in Parliament have borne no fruits, we believe it is important to support this bill in order to secure a legislative framework that guarantees a women’s quota in Parliament. While we are aware that it will not lead us to the agreed national quota of at least 30%, this means that we are still far short of the African Union recommendation of 50% representation for women.

 

Have you read this?

Strength of a Woman

Strength of a Woman - Women, Land & Property

Strength of a Woman - Women, Land & Property

With this special issue on land and property rights, the Strength of a Woman, a product of the African Woman and Child Feature Service is again bringing you the untold stories of women, marginalised groups, challenges with the COK2010 and land policy and the need to connect the dots on issues with land using practical experience.

Download Strength of a Woman - Women, Land & Property

Download Strength of a Woman - I.W.D. Special

Download Strength of a Woman - Maternal Health & Death

Kenyan Woman

Kenyan Woman Issue 23

The Kenyan Woman is a publication of AWCFS and is produced with support from United Nations Democracy Fund

Kenyan Woman Issue 23Kenyan Woman Issue 22|Kenyan Woman Issue 21|Kenyan Woman Issue 20| Kenyan Woman Issue 19 | Previous Editions of Kenyan Woman

Reject Online

The latest edition of the Reject Newspaper is out. The Reject is a bi-monthly online newspaper by the Media Diversity Centre, a project of AWCFS.

Reject Online Issue 54|Reject Online Issue 53 |World Aids Day Special - Reject 52Reject Online Issue 51|Reject Online Issue 50|Reject Online Issue 49|other issues of the Reject Online

We'd like to know...

Do you think HIV positive women should have children?

Latest Events

Mon Feb 06, 2012 @ 8:00AM - 05:00PM
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
Wed Mar 07, 2012 @ 8:00AM - 05:00PM
International Women's Day
Wed Mar 21, 2012 @ 8:00AM - 05:00PM
World Water Day
Fri Mar 23, 2012 @ 8:00AM - 05:00PM
World TB Day
Sat Apr 21, 2012 @ 8:00AM - 05:00PM
World Earth Day

From the Commentary Service