Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria's Proposal to Scrap Off Woman Rep. Seats Meets Opposition

Kenyan female Members of Parliament have dismissed Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria's proposal to scrap off Woman Representative Seat through a referendum.

Kuria argues that the position should be abolished as part of plans to reduce overrepresentation and cut back the country's huge wage bill.
  
The proposal has angered female MPs who say Kuria's suggestion would erode the gain the country has made as far as gender representation is concerned.

"We don't want the National Assembly to have only men if they have a problem with the Woman Rep. title, then they should consider changing the name but make sure they maintain the seat for women," says Baringo Woman Rep. Gladwel Cheruiyot.

"We want to tell Moses Kuria that as you make those proposals of yours, we are not taking them for granted as women of this country. We want to warn you that the Woman Rep. seat will never be scrapped," Bungoma Women Rep. Catherine Wambilianga says.

In a memorandum sent to the Building Bridges Initiative task force, Kuria proposes scrapping of various seats including nominated MCA, Woman Representative, and nominated senator positions.

He also suggests the creation of the position of Prime Minister and two Deputy Prime Ministers posts.

The MP also proposes that the first runner up in the presidential election automatically becomes a Nominated MP and the leader of the official opposition.

In the cabinet, Kuria suggests that there should be a maximum of 26 Cabinet Secretaries who will be appointed by the President from among Members of Parliament.

He also wants each Senator to be the Speaker of their respective county assemblies, while the Senate should only sit for one week every month to give Senators time to run the County assemblies as speakers.